A WOMAN who allegedly attacked three strangers and then turned on her five-year-old daughter during a frenzied and confronting stabbing spree at Salamander Bay last week has made a failed bid for bail in Newcastle Local Court.
The 26-year-old mother allegedly began the series of horrific stabbings by climbing into the backseat of a man's car on Soldiers Point Road, stabbing him in the shoulder and yelling "you cowboy" and "you killed my mum", according to a statement of police facts.
The woman appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday via audio visual link from Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre charged with 11 offences, including four counts of being armed with intent to commit a serious indictable offence and wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The woman did not enter any pleas to the Salamander Bay stabbing charges, but did plead guilty and was fined for a number of unrelated driving, drug and weapon offences, including a charge of having an axe in her car.
Solicitor Kathleen Stroinovsky launched a bail application and said the woman could be placed under house arrest and would abide by any condition the court imposed.
Ms Stroinovsky said the woman suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, but acknowledged that a mental health assessment after the woman's arrest last week had found she was not suffering from a mental illness or disorder.
Ultimately it was that assessment, in contrast to a lack of documentation about the woman's claims of long-standing mental health conditions, that led Magistrate Alex Mijovich to refuse her bail application.
The persons were unknown to her and that makes the unacceptable risk of danger to the community very high.
Magistrate Alex Mijovich said.
"[The woman] has a limited criminal history," Mr Mijovich said.
"It's a strong police case and I've got no material as to her mental health.
"The persons were unknown to her and that makes the unacceptable risk of danger to the community very high.
"In my view the unacceptable risks have not been mitigated and bail is formally refused."
The matter was adjourned until October 28 at Raymond Terrace Local Court.
