Ryde business owner Xiaoyao Zhang charged with stabbing ex-partner

A Sydney business owner has faced court after she allegedly stabbed her ex-partner after she was stopped from leaving a unit in Sydney’s northwest, a court has heard.

Xiaoyao Zhang, 37, of Ryde, appeared at Burwood Local Court on Monday charged with reckless wounding.

A Sydney business owner was supposed to be under the protection of a court order when she allegedly stabbed her ex-partner in a frightening incident in Sydney’s northwest, a court has heard.

Xiaoyao Zhang, 37, of Ryde, appeared at Burwood Local Court on Monday charged with reckless wounding.

About 9.30pm on Sunday, emergency services were called to a unit at Devlin St, Ryde following reports a man had been injured.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated a 35-year-old man at the scene with a stab wound to his chest causing a 1cm wide gash.

He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition.

Zhang was subsequently arrested and taken to Ryde Police Station.

Her lawyer said the single mother had been attempting to leave when the alleged stabbing took place.

“She was trying to leave and he stopped that,” Zhang’s lawyer said. “She has significant marks on her arm, as well.

“It might be raised later in court that is was self defence, or that it was not intentional.”

Xiaoyao Zhang, 37, of Ryde, appeared at Burwood Local Court on Monday charged with reckless wounding.

Zhang had been under the protection of the apprehended violence order at the time of the incident, her lawyer revealed.

The order, which prohibited Zhang and the victim from being in contact, was due to expire in late-2024.

The order came after the pair had been in a three year on-and-off relationship Zhang’s lawyer described as “violent”.

An associated criminal charge had previously been dismissed, the court heard.

Magistrate Daniel Covington said while the AVO was for Zhang’s protection, she should not have been with the victim.

“There shouldn’t have been any contact between the two of them,” he said. “If they had been compliant with the order, Zhang might not be here (in court) today.”

The man was released from hospital on Monday before he was taken to Chatswood police station.

He was charged with contravening a prohibition order under an AVO and granted conditional bail to appear before Burwood Local Court on February 23.

Zhang, who has no criminal history, was also granted conditional bail by Mr Covington.

She will reappear before Burwood Local Court on February 16.