Uber driver repeatedly stabbed fought back, court told
Rex Martinich |
A female Uber driver who was repeatedly stabbed fought back during a bloody struggle with her alleged teenage assailant.
The 16-year-old passenger charged after the woman was rushed to hospital following the alleged Gold Coast attack suffered “defensive injuries” in the struggle, a court was told on Thursday.
The teenager’s matter came before Southport Children’s Court following his arrest over the incident that left the ride share driver fighting for her life.
The 32-year-old woman was discovered semi-conscious in her vehicle by a security guard at a Gold Coast shopping centre at 1.25am on Wednesday.
She was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition with stab wounds to her head, neck and back, Queensland Police said.
Police launched a manhunt and the Upper Coomera boy was later charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, armed robbery and deprivation of liberty.
He appeared by video link in court on Thursday and confirmed to magistrate Mark Bamberry that he was not applying for bail.
His mother and two other supporters watched the proceedings from inside the court.
Prosecutor Corey Cook revealed there had been a bloody struggle during the alleged attack as he applied for an order to take a DNA sample from the youth to “cement the prosecution’s case”.
Duty defence lawyer Brianna Edwards opposed the order, arguing it was not necessary as police claimed they had sufficient evidence of the alleged event, including CCTV footage from the shopping centre.
Mr Cook said police needed to take a DNA sample swab from the youth’s mouth to determine if clothing allegedly belonging to him had been stained with his own blood.
“I haven’t seen the CCTV. I am relying on what the officers said. The defendant didn’t participate in an electronic record of interview so partial admissions that may or may not have been made cannot be relied upon at this time,” Mr Cook said.
“There was a defensive struggle between both the victim and the defendant, so in the circumstances from what I have been advised there would have been defensive wounds suffered by the defendant.”
Mr Bamberry found it was reasonable for police to take a DNA sample from the youth and granted the order.
“The blood was found on clothes. The victim is severely injured. It’s cognisant for the police to conduct a proper investigation,” the magistrate said.
The youth said he had “no questions” after Mr Bamberry explained the court proceedings to him.
Police allege the youth booked a ride with the Uber driver and travelled from Hope Island to Coomera before she was found at the Westfield shopping centre in the Gold Coast suburb.
The matter was adjourned to October 29 with the youth remanded in custody.
If convicted of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, the youth faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Queensland’s ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ laws.
AAP
