A “transgender aboriginal” woman charged over a shocking alleged unprovoked stabbing in Melbourne’s CBD has had an application to be released on bail rejected.
Lauren Darul, 33, is facing multiple charges over the alleged attack on Asian sushi chef Wan Lai, 36, at 7.30am while on bail on October 2 last year, leaving her alleged victim with a punctured lung. The incident sparked public outrage over Melbourne’s crime crisis after CCTV of the alleged attack emerged weeks later.
Darul was released on bail in December when Justice Rita Incerti took into account her claimed indigeneity, long history of mental illness and homelessness, and claims to be “transitioning” to male, but bail was revoked two days later based on a new medical report and letter.
Justice Incerti heard a new application for bail in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday, and on Thursday ruled referred to Darul as a male while ruling she was an “unacceptable risk to the community” and refusing the application, The Melbourne City News reported.
“The risk he (sic) might endanger the community is genuine and significant,” Justice Incerti said.
“The risk that Mr (sic) Darul poses is simply too high at this point in time and I can not see any bail conditions that would mitigate that risk.”
She also noted that Ms Lai remains “deeply fearful” of Darul and noted the alleged knifewoman lacked insight into her mental illnesses and was likely to return to drug use.
Consultant psychiatrist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Dr Vashti Wilman told the court on Wednesday Darul might have an acquired brain injury, reported “hearing voices” while in custody, and suffered from “consistent, active psychotic symptoms” but might be unwilling to be treated for the illnesses and had admitted she “may use” methamphetamine if released.
“I think Lauren will try … and … will engage with us as it is in their capacity to do so. I do imagine it will be inconsistent and require multiple attempts to contact him (sic) as it did in the past,” he said.
“Lauren has previously experienced mental health treatment as burdensome and interfering with their life at certain times.”
He also told the court Darul was at high risk of relapse into drug and alcohol abuse and mental health deterioration.
Darul’s lawyer tried to argue the risk to the community could be managed, and told the court “having a mental illness should not be a disqualifier to obtaining bail [and] being a person who is a risk of using illicit drugs should not be a disqualifier for obtaining bail”.
During previous bail applications courts heard Darul was on bail at the time of the alleged stabbing, had nine prior bail breach offences, had been issued with 16 warrants for failing to appear on bail, and faced up to seven years’ jail for the alleged stabbing.
Darul was allegedly involved in five separate crimes in the three months leading up to the alleged attack on Ms Lai, including allegedly spitting in the face of a 10-year-old boy who was walking with his family near Melbourne Aquarium. She later blamed her daily methamphetamine use.
Header image: Left, Lauren Darul (Facebook). Right, the alleged stabbing (7News).
