Bella-Rose Currie Shields accused of grandmother’s attempted murder makes bid for freedom in Brisbane Supreme Court

A woman accused of stabbing her grandmother had a history of ‘concerning episodes’, including locking herself in a room while armed with a large knife and expressing “homicidal ideations”, a court heard.

A woman accused of stabbing her grandmother had a history of “concerning episodes … in a disturbed state” prior to the attack, including a 30-hour drug-fuelled bender and locking herself in a room while armed with a large knife and expressing “homicidal ideations”, a court heard.

Bella-Rose Currie Shields, then 19, allegedly repeatedly stabbed her 63-year-old grandmother Carolyn Shields with a kitchen knife in an “unprovoked and frenzied attack” at their Beaudesert home on May 17 last year.

Bella-Rose Currie Shields is accused of the attempted murder of her grandmother. Picture: Facebook

The victim suffered injuries to her kidneys, spleen and intestines. She was rushed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where she underwent surgery and was later discharged.

Ms Shields was charged with attempted murder. She has been in custody for the past 16 months, with five months spent at The Park high-security psychiatric hospital.

Ms Shields applied for bail in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday, after her previous bail application in Beenleigh Magistrates Court in November was refused.

Prosecutor Jennifer O’Brien opposed her release, citing a risk of Ms Shields committing further offences and endangering the safety of others, particularly the victim and witnesses.

It is alleged Ms Shields had “concerning episodes” prior to the attack, with her family seeing that she was “in a disturbed state”. The court heard she has used cannabis since age 11.

“She does present with some concerning mental health issues,” Ms O’Brien told the court.

“[In a] previous episode … the grandmother brought her into the hospital where she had not slept for 30 hours, it was in part due to the methamphetamine use the night before and then cannabis during the day.

“She also [previously] barricaded herself in a room [at her grandparents’ house] and expressed homicidal ideations while armed with a large knife.”

Ms O’Brien questioned whether the level of supervision Ms Shields would be under if she was granted bail would be sufficient, and her ability to potentially access illicit drugs.

Legal Aid lawyer Natalie Keys, representing Ms Shields, submitted reports from her client’s treating psychologists, and highlighted that one of them said she was performing well.

She also said her client, who has no previous criminal history, was working in the prison kitchen, which involved using knives - again pointing to Ms Shields’ progress.

Ms Keys said Ms Shields proposed to live in a supported care facility with social workers and psychologists available, if she was granted bail.

She also proposed that Ms Shields remain under a treatment authority in the community, if released, which would include her treating doctors and psychologists ensuring that she continued to take her medication and did not take any illicit drugs.

Justice Thomas Bradley adjourned the case on Tuesday, and reserved his decision until the following day. On Wednesday morning, he granted Ms Shields bail.