Palmerston woman charged with stabbing partner almost to death granted bail and will fight charge

A Palmerston woman charged with stabbing her partner almost to death two days before Christmas has been granted bail in the Darwin Local Court.

A Palmerston woman will plead not guilty to stabbing her partner, the Darwin Local Court has heard.

A PALMERSTON woman charged with stabbing her partner almost to death two days before Christmas has been granted bail in the Darwin Local Court.

Jessica Lee Horne, 35, faced court on Friday charged with unlawfully causing serious harm, resisting police in the execution of their duty and possessing less than a trafficable quantity of a schedule two drug.

In applying for bail on her behalf, duty lawyer Peter Maley said Horne denied stabbing her partner at her home in Gray on December 23 and would contest the charge in the Supreme Court.

Mr Maley said his client had herself been assaulted by the 28-year-old man two days prior to the stabbing which left him fighting for his life in hospital.

“It seems that the alleged victim is out of danger but I know he’s in intensive care,” he said.

Mr Maley said the man had “trashed” Horne’s place and there had been “an ongoing heated argument” in which others became involved.

He said the man had told police at the scene it was someone else who stabbed him but had not made a formal statement.

Prosecutor Harry Hollingsworth said the legal presumption was in favour of granting bail and he did not oppose the application but said police had requested that Horne not be allowed to approach the victim or speak to her neighbours who witnessed the incident if released.

In granting bail, judge John Neill imposed strict conditions, including that she be home between 6pm and 9pm, not out of concern she would abscond but so police could “keep her under wraps”.

Mr Neill imposed a $1000 surety that Horne will have to forfeit if she fails to show up at court and banned her from drugs or alcohol and contacting any of the witnesses while on bail.

“These are serious matters alleged but they’re firmly defended, I’m informed,” he said.

Horne will return to court on February 19.