Girl previously charged with murdering woman in Footscray granted community visits

A girl aged 12 when she was charged with murdering a woman in a Footscray apartment has begun spending time in the community under strict supervision.

Police at the scene of the stabbing in November 2023. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A child who was previously charged with murdering a woman in a Footscray apartment has begun spending time in the community under strict supervision.

The girl, who was 12 at the time of her arrest in November 2023, was later deemed doli incapax — a legal presumption that a child under 14 cannot be held criminally responsible — and the charge was withdrawn by prosecutors last year.

Known by the pseudonym WD, she has been living in a secure residential care unit since her arrest at the scene.

The Supreme Court heard on Tuesday that the girl had recently begun making supervised outings but remained frustrated and upset by the slow pace of changes to her care arrangements.

The girl was aged 12 at the time of the alleged stabbing. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Her lawyer told the court she was informed she might have a television in her room by Christmas but that did not eventuate and she was not provided an explanation.

He said she was upset about being subject to a curfew and wanted to spend more time at the gym and in the wider community.

The court previously heard that any leave would depend on the outcomes of three medical appointments.

The Herald Sun understands the girl’s outings are conducted under strict supervision, either by police or workers authorised by the Secretary of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

The girl has begun spending time in the community under strict supervision. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The court was also told she is receiving virtual education which was facilitated through care staff and a risk assessment was required before a teacher can work with her on-site.

An incident occurred last month, prompting Justice James Elliott to apologise to the girl, saying it was something she should never have experienced.

Details of the incident were not aired in court, but it is currently under investigation, with a report expected later this year.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that, no child should be spoken or treated like that,” the judge said when he directly addressed the girl.

Before her arrest, the girl absconded from residential care 275 times and had been missing for two weeks when she was found covered in blood at the Footscray apartment complex.

The case triggered a major inquiry by the state’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, which found it exposed “the most profound service system failures” in Victoria’s child protection system.

The girl will return to court later this year.