Marc Rajan Taylor faces court for allegedly stabbing 18-year-old teen at Peace Lutheran College

The 18-year-old student facing an attempted murder charge over the alleged stabbing of a classmate has been remanded in custody.

Police cars outside Peace Lutheran College in Cairns after a female student, 18, was allegedly stabbed by a male student on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

The 18-year-old student facing an attempted murder charge over the alleged stabbing of a classmate has been remanded in custody until February 21, 2024.

Cairns Magistrates Court heard that a mental health assessment was pending for Caravonica man Marc Rajan Taylor.

Police allege he walked up to 18-year-old Melody Neal, who was sitting with friends at 10.45am during a school break at Peace Lutheran College at Kamerunga, and stabbed her with a knife multiple times before being restrained by staff and other students.

Melody Neal, 18, was the victim of an alleged school stabbing in May at Peace Lutheran College.

Mr Taylor, also a student at the college, was arrested by police, who later recovered a knife at the scene.

Detective Acting Inspector Jason Chetham described the alleged event as “horrific”.

Ms Neal was transferred to Townsville Hospital in an induced coma in a critical condition.

Her mother Sharon Guest previously told the Cairns Post Ms Neal’s life hung in the balance for several days and she underwent several surgeries, having half of her liver removed.

“When we met with her liver surgeon, he said the damage to her liver had been far greater than the surgeons in Cairns had thought,” Ms Guest said.

Melody Neal, 18, was the victim of an alleged school stabbing in May at Peace Lutheran College.

They said following the operation surgeons patched up a hole in Ms Neal’s spine caused by the attack.

“Unfortunately, however, they discovered the knife had severed three spinal nerves. So we didn’t know if this meant she couldn’t walk again,” Ms Guest said.

A second spinal surgery followed to fully close the spinal hole.

Due to damage to her kidneys Ms Neal, who a family friend said was a “highly intelligent, sweet person”, was on dialysis for several weeks.

She was unconscious for three weeks after the alleged attack.

Originally published as Marc Rajan Taylor faces court for allegedly stabbing 18-year-old teen at Peace Lutheran College