Woman charged with stabbing

Press, 5 June 1982, Page 6

Woman charged with stabbing

PA Invercargill A woman, aged 28, was yesterday charged with the attempted murder of a man accused of indecently assaulting her daughter, aged 10.

She was alleged to 'have stabbed the man in the public foyer of the District Court at Invercargill shortly before a freezing worker, aged 43, was to appear on a charge.of indecent assault.

The names of all the parties were suppressed.

The woman was remanded to Cherry Farm Hospital after Judge Anderson had called for a psychiatric report when she applied for bail. She will reappear in the Invercargill court on July 2. The case against the rnan was adjourned until Tuesday after the police had said he was unable to appear as a result of the incident. The man was treated for a back wound and discharged from Southland Hospital.

Another man was'treated in hospital for a wound in the leg, caused, according to onlookers, when the woman threw away the knife after

the alleged stabbing. Applying for bail, the woman's counsel, Mr P. J. Mooney, said her actions had been directed at only. one person. Her motive had been to inflict, “some sort of punishment” on that person for molesting her daughter. Mr Mooney said . the woman was separated from her , husband and had two children, aged eight and 10, in her care.

Sergeant N. D. Cruickshank said the police did not oppose bail, provided there were two substantial sureties, a reporting clause, and an order that she must not approach the complainant. However, after considering the bail application in chambers, Judge Anderson decided to have her examined by the Southland Hospital Board psychiatrist.

After the examination was made, a medical certificate was produced to the court. Judge Anderson then re-’ manded her to Cherry Farm Hospital under the provision of Section 47 a (ii) c of the Crimes Act, to appear again on July 2.