Accused dog killer’s mental health issues ‘due to gender reassignment treatment’
A court has heard a young woman who allegedly slit a dog’s throat will be detained on psychological grounds and is having issues because of gender reassignment treatment.
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A young woman accused of slitting the throat of her former lover‘s beloved dog has been sent to a psychological ward after a court heard she was having issues with gender reassignment and had injured herself following the alleged bloody attack.
Police found a 44-year-old woman attempting to save the life of Rocky, her 13-year-old English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, after his throat was slashed at a Marrickville home at 1.30am on Sunday.
Rocky was rushed to a nearby vet for surgery but did not survive.
Olivia Sindel, the 24-year-old lover of Rocky‘s owner, was found on Oxford Street in Surry Hills and arrested by police.
Sindel was silent fronted Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday on numerous charges ranging from stalking and AVO breaches to torture, beat and cause death to an animal.
She rocked back and forth, twitching and stroking her hair as her Legal Aid lawyer explained the chilling first words Sindel uttered when she spoke with her lawyer.
“First thing she said to me was that she wanted me to kill her,” her lawyer said, adding that her client is transgender.
“There are significant issues because of the gender reassignment treatment.”
Sindel raised her fringe showing a large red mark as the court heard paramedics had to sedate her when she was arrested because she had been slamming her own head.
A prison guard appeared on the screen alongside Sindel to read a letter from a mental health team who recommended she be supervised to stop further self harm.
Court documents list Sindel’s address as a hotel in Ultimo.
Police allege in the documents she used a landline to harass someone in Armidale the day she breached court orders at Marrickville and attacked Rocky.
The court ordered Sindel be detained for psychological care until her next court appearance.
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