NT teen mental health turmoil to be assessed ahead of alleged bus stabbing hearing

A young woman who allegedly stabbed three people with scissors amid a mental health crisis could be locked up in the hospital, rather than a prison cell, amid urgent local court battle.

Zizi Averill

@ZiziAverill

less than 2 min read

October 14, 2024 - 7:49PM

The 19-year-old woman appeared in Darwin Local Court on Monday charged with three counts of aggravated assault and going armed in public following an alleged bus stabbing rampage in Parap. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A woman who allegedly stabbed multiple people with a pair of scissors could soon be involuntarily detained in the Territory’s hospital system.

The 19-year-old woman appeared in Darwin Local Court on Monday charged with three counts of aggravated assault and going armed in public following an alleged bus stabbing rampage in Parap.

NT Police have alleged the woman, who cannot be named due to protections in the Mental Health Act, was reported to have chased people while armed with scissors around 6.15pm, on Thursday.

It is alleged she injured three people, including 70-year-old and 27-year-old men who suffered minor injuries, and a woman in her 60s who was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A woman in her 60s who was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The woman appeared in court facing eight other charges, including multiple breaches of bail, assault, a minor drug offence, as well as non-appearances and breach of domestic violence orders.

Judge Ben O’Loughlin heard she was suffering from a severe mental health issue, with her defence lawyer fighting for her to be involuntarily detained in a health institution rather than a cell.

Mr O’Loughlin approved her to be assessed by the chief health officer, as part of a pathway to an “involuntary treatment commitment”.

Northern Territory Local Court judge Ben O'Loughlin. Picture: Supplied.

Despite warning about the upcoming mental health court list — with 25 other matters on a single day resulting in a “do not list” alert — Mr O’Loughlin approved an “expedited” adjournment to Thursday, October 17 due to her youth and the concerns about her time in custody

No application of bail was made, but the woman did not appear to understand what had just occurred during the brief six-minute hearing.

“Am I getting bail? I need bail to go back to Katherine,” she asked through the security screen.

“I need to go back to Katherine.”