A Melbourne magistrate has deemed a 33-year-old woman an "unacceptable risk to the community" and refused her bail after she was charged with a brazen daytime stabbing of a sushi chef in the city's central business district.
Alleged Attack in Broad Daylight
The incident unfolded on October 2 at approximately 7:35 am on Little Bourke Street, near the intersection with Spencer Street. The court was presented with CCTV footage that allegedly shows Lauren Darul running up behind the 36-year-old victim, Wan Lai, while wielding a knife before stabbing her in the right side of her chest.
Darul applied for bail on Tuesday, however, Deputy Chief Magistrate Timothy Bourke rejected the application the following day. The decision was heavily influenced by the court's discovery that Darul had 19 outstanding matters before the court and was already on bail for some of them at the time of the alleged attack.
A Troubled History and a Promise to Change
The court heard details of Darul's challenging personal circumstances. Throughout her life, she has been homeless or living in unstable accommodation and lives with bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. She also has a long-standing history of substance use, including alcohol, methylamphetamine, and ice.
During her video link appearance on Tuesday, Darul expressed a desire to turn her life around, telling the court, "I want to clean up my life and stay off the drugs" and "I don't intend on going back on the ice."
Despite these assurances, Magistrate Bourke pointed to her criminal history dating back to 2016, which includes multiple charges of motor and shop thefts, along with a pattern of failing to appear in court and breaching bail conditions.
Community Risk and Victim's Trauma
Darul was formally charged with committing an indictable offence (intentionally cause injury) while on bail. First Constable Damian Elliott informed the court that the victim, Wan Lai, wants her accused attacker to remain behind bars.
While Lai has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering physically from her injuries, the psychological impact of the event persists. The trauma was so severe that she has relocated from her home because it was too close to the location of the alleged stabbing.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about public safety and the judicial system's handling of repeat offenders who are released on bail.
