Woman Claims Self-Defence in Carrington Hotel Stabbing Case, Bail Denied
A young woman facing serious domestic violence-related charges after a stabbing incident at a Carrington hotel last week has told a Newcastle court she was the victim of "violent and threatening" conduct from the man she allegedly injured.
Alleged Attack Details
Alyssa Richardson, 22, appeared in Newcastle Local Court via audio visual link from custody on Wednesday, charged with domestic violence-related wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, intimidation, and common assault.
Police allege the incident occurred at a hotel in Young Street, Carrington, around 11.30am on Friday. According to court documents, Richardson punched the 23-year-old man in the head, scratched his face, then produced a knife, threatened to kill him, and stabbed him multiple times.
Emergency services responded to reports of a stabbing and found the man suffering from several non-life-threatening stab wounds. He was transported to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Conflicting Accounts of Events
While Richardson claims she was subjected to domestic violence leading up to the alleged attack, police investigators present a different timeline. Detectives told the court that the violence had "ceased" before Richardson allegedly attacked the man.
According to police evidence, Richardson later admitted to officers that she was "angry" when she carried out the alleged assault. The 22-year-old had been staying at the hotel and was arrested nearby following the incident.
Bail Application Arguments
Richardson's solicitor, Nicahla Ivey-Hamilton, applied for bail on Wednesday, arguing that a combination of conditions could mitigate any risks her client might pose to the community or the alleged victim.
Ms Ivey-Hamilton highlighted several factors in Richardson's favour:
- No prior criminal history
- Untreated mental health issues at the time of the alleged incident
- Experiencing domestic violence during the period in question
The solicitor informed the court that Richardson had now been referred to a women's domestic violence support service and would receive a mental health care plan to address her post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Ms Ivey-Hamilton further argued that Richardson's youth and clean record meant a jail sentence was not inevitable if she were convicted.
Magistrate's Decision
Magistrate Peter Feather refused the bail application, describing the alleged offence as serious and noting Richardson's limited community ties.
"She may well have been subjected to violence at the hands of the victim in the lead up to this offence, but it seems that violence had ceased," Mr Feather stated. "She said [to the police] that she was angry and that is why she carried out the wounding offence."
The magistrate expressed sympathy for Richardson's situation but concluded: "I have significant sympathy for Ms Richardson. But I am not satisfied there are any bail conditions that could be imposed to mitigate the concerns."
The matter has been adjourned until March for further proceedings.
Support services are available for those affected by domestic violence or mental health concerns, including Lifeline (13 11 14), 1800-RESPECT (1800 737 732), and Kids Helpline (1800 551 800).
