Woman accused of Salamander Bay stabbing rampage deemed danger to community
Chloe May Geale, 26, accused of stabbing multiple people, including a five year old girl at Salamander Bay near Port Stephens last month has been refused bail at Newcastle Local Court.
Newcastle
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A woman accused of stabbing four people, including a five year old girl, will be kept behind bars, deemed a danger to the community.
Police allege Chloe May Geale, 26, went on a rampage with a knife and scissors, first attacking a man in his car, stabbing several people at an IGA grocery store, before turning the knife on a little girl and stabbing her in the head, at Salamander Bay near Port Stephens last month.
Geale is facing a number of charges including four counts of being armed with intent to commit indictable offence, three of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wound person intend to cause grievous bodily harm, affray, assault police officer in execution of duty and resist or hinder police in execution of duty.
In Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, Geale appeared via video link from Mulawa Correctional centre.
Despite a previous court ruling she was not mentally unwell, her lawyer argued her client’s mental health was vulnerable and she suffered from PTSD, anxiety and depression.
She told the court Ms Geale was willing to be under house arrest if given bail, where she would only be allowed out of the house a couple of hours in the day for medical treatment.
She added Ms Geale would also abide by any conditions and would agree to no contact with her alleged victims. She said her client had good community ties and her family would continue to support her.
But the prosecutor opposed bail and argued the case against Ms Geale had serious disturbing facts, and if she was found guilty, nothing less than a custodial sentence would be sufficient, citing she posed a danger to the community and it was likely she would commit further serious offences.
Magistrate Alex Mijovich told the court Ms Geale appeared to have strong community ties but her charges were very serious and violent, and she has had a strong history of violence since 2014.
On her mental health issues he said, “She has been assessed and there is no issues and I accept that.”
“Issues of protection of the community remain high. Bail is formally refused.”
The magistrate ordered a brief status to be served, for the matter to be adjourned to October at Raymond Terrace Local Court.
Meanwhile, Ms Geale also pleaded guilty to other matters before the court.
The magistrate dismissed a possession of cannabis charge, but Ms Geale was convicted of driving while suspended, driving with drugs in her system and having an axe as a weapon in her car.
She’s was fined and disqualified from driving for a total of nine months.