ACT Magistrates Court refuses Ebony Austen bail over alleged stabbing

A woman is behind bars after she was accused of stabbing her “cultural aunt” in the face with a butter knife.

The ACT Magistrates Court coat of arms. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

A woman is behind bars after she was accused of stabbing her “cultural aunt” in the face with a butter knife, “no doubt disfiguring” the alleged victim.

Ebony Coffey Austen, 28, was refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when she did not enter a plea to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

Austen has been in custody since she allegedly committed the offence on March 10, when she argued with the alleged victim at her unit in the inner north Canberra suburb of Downer.

Police claim the alleged victim struck Austen in the face, prompting the 28-year-old to retaliate by grabbing a butter knife and stabbing the other woman in the left cheek.

Defence lawyer Natasha Goode told the court Austen had been “deeply upset” on the night in question, having attended a ceremony to honour her late mother earlier that day.

The ACT Magistrates Court, where Ebony Austen appeared on Tuesday. Picture: NCA Newswire

Ms Goode said the alleged victim had turned up at Austen’s home uninvited and “immediately attacked” the 28-year-old, “clawing at” her eye and leaving a scar on her throat.

The defence lawyer argued Austen had responded to this by acting in self-defence.

Ms Goode said the alleged victim, described as Austen’s “cultural aunt”, was “well-known to the courts and police”.

“She is many times larger than Ms Austen, who is best described as petite and slight,” Ms Goode told the court.

The defence lawyer added that Austen suffered from foetal alcohol syndrome, and had a reduced IQ as a result.

While Ms Goode argued bail would be appropriate, prosecutors opposed Austen’s release.

Magistrate Robert Cook refused bail without needing to hear submissions about their concerns.

He noted the alleged stabbing had occurred while Austen had been on bail in relation to ongoing property damage charges.

There was no indication as to whether Austen had entered a plea to those charges, which were said to involve allegations she had damaged a house and vehicle.

Mr Cook said Austen’s bail conditions had included a ban on drinking alcohol, but police claimed she was intoxicated when she was arrested within an hour of the alleged stabbing.

He also noted her bail conditions had banned her from attending the address where she was found and arrested.

The magistrate said he was of the view Austen had “responded excessively” during the March 10 incident, describing the alleged victim’s facial injury as “no doubt disfiguring”.

“The risk is simply too high for me to form a view that I could put in place any conditions that would regulate [Austen’s] behaviour,” he said.

Mr Cook remanded Austen in custody until her next court appearance in April.