Rosewood stabbing: Boy, 16, arrested after young girl, woman attacked

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder over an alleged stabbing attack that “significantly injured” a woman and left her 11-year-old daughter fighting for life.

Police at the scene where teenager is in custody following an alleged stabbing in Rosewood. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder over a stabbing attack that “significant injured” a woman and left her 11-year-old daughter fighting for life in an incident west of Brisbane overnight.

Police were called to an address at Rosewood about 10.30pm on Thursday and found the girl and the woman suffering multiple stab wounds to their abdomens.

A police officer investigating a stabbing incident at Rosewood. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The woman, a mother of three, was taken to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, while the little girl was rushed to the Queensland Children’s hospital.

It is believed both underwent surgery this morning and that they are in a critical condition.

A 16-year-old boy, believed to be the son of the woman and brother of the injured little girl, has been charged with attempted murder.

Detective Inspector David Briese confirmed all people were from the same family and all lived at the address.

Another child also lives at the home. That child is now with other family members.

Gloves lying discarded on the ground near to the home where a woman and a child were stabbed. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Det Insp Briese described the scene at the home as “very confronting” and that the victims had “significant injuries”.

“They’re fairly significant (injuries), we believe that they are stab wounds to both females,” he said.

“They were transported to hospital and underwent surgery this morning. Both are in a critical condition.

“There is a potential weapon located at the scene. The scene is currently under police guard and will be assessed during the next day or two by scientific officers.

“There was another occupant, another child, that was present that was unharmed.”

Police at a home in Rosewood following a stabbing. Picture: Rose Innes

Investigators on scene at the Rosewood home. Picture: Rose Innes

He said the actions of emergency services had “certainly gone a long way to keeping both people located there alive” and that one of the victims called triple-zero.

“We were able to get police there and other emergency services immediately,” he said.

Detectives from Child Protection Investigation Unit were leading the investigation, Det Insp Briese confirmed.

“This is a small community here at Rosewood, a community where everyone sort of knows everyone, so no doubt it will shake the community a little bit,” he said.

The matter was briefly mentioned in Ipswich Children’s Court on Friday afternoon. The boy did not appear personally but was represented by defence lawyer Emily Fackender.

Ms Fackender requested the matter be adjourned so she could conference with her client and allow time to conduct bail address checks.

She indicated the defence would be making an application for bail when the matter resumed.

Magistrate Jason Schubert adjourned the matter for mention in Ipswich Children’s Court on Monday, June 12.

The boy was remanded in custody to appear on that date.

A neighbour who has lived in the area for the past two years, said the residents of the home where the incident occurred were a “nice young family”.

“We always see the kids playing in the back yard,” she said.

The neighbour said she felt for the 11-year-old girl who was now in hospital.

“This is really touching my heart,” she said.

She said it made her feel sick to her stomach that something like this could happen in her street.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding described the Rosewood stabbing as “gut wrenching”.

“It’s gut-wrenching – happening anywhere is gut-wrenching but Rosewood is a very tight knit community … it’s a community that really sticks together,” she said.

“Everyone nearly knows everyone so this is going to really impact (the community) a lot … there will be a lot of hurt in a township.

“This is going to really impact a lot of families that know this family

“I understand that some of the children in this family go to the local school … the school has wrap around support services for the family but also for the other kids in the community

“My thoughts are also with the ambulance officers and the police officers … what they saw in the early hours of this morning would have been quite horrific.”