Woman denied bail after allegedly stabbing hospital staffer with syringe
A woman who allegedly yelled “I have HIV” before stabbing a hospital worker with a syringe on the NSW far north coast has an “appalling” criminal history across Australia, a court heard today.
NSW
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A woman has allegedly yelled “I have HIV and I’m going to kill you all” before stabbing a man with a syringe at Lismore Base Hospital.
Amber Daldy-Rowe, 39, allegedly entered the hospital emergency department for treatment on Saturday before threatening staff, producing a syringe and lunging at the wardsman who was attempting to restrain her.
Daldy-Rowe has an “appalling” criminal history including jail terms in three states, a court heard today.
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The alleged victim, who was treated for a cut to his left arm, is said to be “deeply distressed” by the incident and will undergo six months of intensive medical tests and monitoring before his condition is known.
Daldy-Rowe is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of common assault, using offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence, and resisting arrest.
Clad in prison greens with a heavy build and long orange hair she faced Lismore Local Court from the glass-walled dock.
Her solicitor Philip Crick applied for bail by arguing she hadn’t offended in three years.
“She does suffer from some mental health issues... (and) it would seem to me that her mental health has deteriorated in the 24 hours since I spoke to her yesterday,” he said.
He said the most serious charge of grievous bodily harm could be withdrawn if the alleged victim did not receive an infectious disease from his injury.
He also signalled Daldy-Rowe would most likely plead guilty to the assault.
But police prosecutor Ben Ferreira opposed bail by arguing the charges were “exceedingly grave” and the prosecution case was very strong.
He said Daldy-Rowe had made numerous threats including shouting: “I have HIV and I’m going to kill you all” before she attacked the wardsman.
“There’s abundant material, not only in the CCTV, the witness statements, but the admissions of the defendant herself,” he said.
He said one of the offences was also allegedly committed in the presence of small children and Daldy-Rowe had an “unrelenting history of criminal offences being committed in this state as well as others”.
Ferreira also said there had been numerous breaches of bail, with a number of arrest warrants still outstanding from WA and no bail conditions could eliminate the risk.
Magistrate Heilpern agreed that the prosecution case was “overwhelming”.
“This is an extraordinary serious matter,” he said.
“She has an appalling record of failing to appear”.
“The offence is indicative of someone who is completely out of control.”
Mr Heilpern refused bail on the basis that releasing Ms Daldy-Rowe could put herself and the community at risk and she may fail to appear given her prior record.
“I’m not a violent person,” Daldy-Rowe cried out, as she was taken away by correctional officers in black protective gloves.
“Let go of my f***ing arm.”
The matter was adjourned until January.