Australia, Nov. 22 -- Supreme Court of Victoria issued text of the following judgement on Nov. 14:
1 I heard an application for bail by Makia McLaughlin ('the applicant') on 12 November and granted her bail. These are my reasons.
2 The applicant is charged with a number of offences which are alleged to have occurred on 11 October 2024:
(a) Recklessly cause injury;
(b) Contravene Interim Personal Safety Intervention Order ('PSIO');
(c) Discharge missile to cause injury or danger;
(d) Unlawful assault; and
(e) Assault Police Officer.
3 The applicant is further charged with a number of offences alleged to have occurred on 17 October 2024:
(a) Attempted armed robbery;
(b) Recklessly cause injury; and
(c) Assault with weapon.
4 At the time of the application for bail, the applicant was on bail for two charges of theft and one charge for failing to state name and address. She was further summonsed on a series of outstanding charges, including: 10 charges for theft, four charges for unlawful assault, seven charges for failing to answer bail, five charges for committing an indictable offence while on bail, three charges for possessing drugs and single charges of robbery, assaulting an emergency worker on duty, recklessly causing injury, beating an animal, recklessly causing injury, possessing a controlled weapon, resisting police and failing to comply with the conditions of a community correction order ('CCO').
5 The applicant was arrested on the evening of 17 October 2024 and was charged and remanded in custody in relation to the present matters on 18 October 2024.
6 On 18 October 2024, the applicant was refused bail in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on the basis that, although she had shown compelling reasons for the grant of bail, she posed an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety or welfare of any person.
7 A further application was made for bail on 25 October 2024. The learned magistrate once again held that the applicant had demonstrated compelling reasons for the grant of bail, but that she continued to pose an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety or welfare of any person.
8 The applicant's matter is next listed for a Committal Case Conference on 10 January 2025.
Alleged offending
Incident 1
9 At approximately 11:15pm on 11 October 2024, Ms Nerisa Rutterford was returning home with her son when the applicant began verbally abusing her from her balcony. Ms Rutterford is a neighbour of the applicant and is the protected person in an interim PSIO against the applicant.
10 The applicant is alleged to have thrown a glass bottle at Ms Rutterford, which struck her on the upper body, followed by a brick which narrowly missed her. The applicant then fetched a metal pole and rushed at Ms Rutterford with the pole and another brick. This conduct is captured on a phone recording made by Ms Rutterford.
11 Police arrived shortly afterwards. When notified that she was under arrest, the applicant is alleged to have removed her pants and used the garment to strike the officer to the side of his neck, providing the basis for the assault police charge. The applicant was arrested and was transported to St Vincent's Hospital for assessment.
*Rest of the document and Footnotes can be viewed at: (https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VSC/2024/706.html)
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
