Melanie Jane Byers allegedly stabs man in Maroochydore

A Maroochydore woman has claimed self defence after she was arrested for allegedly stabbing a fisherman who threw a hot chicken at her.

A woman has claimed to police the man she allegedly stabbed underneath a Maroochydore bridge in self defence threatened her and threw a hot chicken at her.

Melanie Jane Byers was arrested on November 19 after she allegedly wounded a man near the Emporio apartments in Maroochydore.

Police allege the 43-year-old stabbed the fisherman in the elbow with a knife following an argument and was later taken into custody.

The Maroochydore woman appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court via video to apply for bail, claiming it was in self defence, disputing the alleged victim’s version of events.

Duty lawyer Michael Robinson said the man claims he came down to the bridge near Emporio Pl in Maroochydore to fish where Ms Byers had been living when she allegedly stabbed him after an argument.

Melanie Jane Byers. Picture: Facebook

Mr Robinson said he was instructed by Ms Byers she had met the man earlier that day under the bridge where she lives and he drunkenly made threats towards her.

The court was told the man returned later that night without a fishing rod and kicked her stuff around, threw a hot chicken at her and threw a lit candle at her.

Ms Byers claims he then tried to strike her when she allegedly stabbed him in self defence.

“What’s she doing with this knife,” Magistrate Rod Madsen asked.

“She uses it for art … cutting up cardboard boxes,” Mr Robinson replied.

Mr Robinson questioned the severity of the wounding, with police prosecutor James Allen saying the depth of the wound was the concern.

Mr Madsen denied her bail and adjourned her case to March 3, 2023 where she’s charged with unlawful wounding.