Coffs Harbour Court: Sarah Elizabeth Smith refused bail for stabbing man in neck

A magistrate has heard a former corrections officer told cops she intended to “kill” a man by allegedly stabbing him in the neck, but the alleged victim claims he “tripped and fell” onto the blade.

Sarah Elizabeth Smith, 42, has been refused bail in Coffs Harbour local court on Tuesday May 13, 2025.

A magistrate has heard a former West Australian corrections officer told police she intended to “kill” a man by allegedly stabbing him in the neck, but the alleged victim claims he “tripped and fell” onto the blade.

Police facts tendered to the court state Sarah Elizabeth Smith, 42, allegedly told police “my intention was to kill him”, but the facts also revealed the alleged victim claimed it was an accident.

In Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday it was heard Smith had consumed “approximately two or at least three bottles of wine” before the alleged stabbing at Strouds Rd in Bonville on February 24.

Sarah Elizabeth Smith has been refused bail over a stabbing incident at Bonville in February.

Smith’s defence solicitor, Jonathon Paff, sought bail for his client providing fresh evidence — an alleged victim affidavit statement in which he (the alleged victim) indicated the “incident in some essences was an accident”.

Paff also argued the nature of Smith’s previous employment placed her “at risk” in custody and that court delays were also key features of the bail application.

A man has provided evidence to Coffs Harbour court in a stabbing case that he "tripped and fell" onto a knife.

However the police prosecutor, Sgt McCarthy, told the court the new submissions did not provide any additional information which wasn’t already available on the last occasion.

The bail application was denied on Tuesday by Ms Hamilton who noted the “strictly indictable” nature of the matter, and “no unusual or exceptional delays” in proceedings.

Smith will return to court on May 27 charged with wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder and reckless wounding — both domestic violence related.

No pleas have been entered.

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Originally published as Coffs Harbour Court: Sarah Elizabeth Smith refused bail for stabbing man in neck