A female Uber driver who was repeatedly stabbed fought back during a bloody struggle with her alleged teenage assailant.
The case of a teenager was presented at Southport Children’s Court after his arrest for an incident where a ride-share driver was critically injured.
She was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition with stab wounds to her head, neck and back, Queensland Police said.
The police conducted a search and apprehended the boy from Upper Coomera, charging him with causing serious injury, armed robbery, and unlawful confinement.
He appeared by video link in court today 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 indicated that a violent struggle occurred during the alleged assault as he requested a court order for a DNA sample from the teenager to strengthen the prosecution’s case.
Duty defense lawyer Brianna Edwards contested the request, stating it was unnecessary given that the police already claimed to possess enough evidence, including CCTV footage from the scene.
Cook argued that law enforcement needed a DNA swab from the teenager’s mouth to verify whether his clothes, allegedly worn during the incident, were stained with his blood.
“I haven’t reviewed the CCTV footage myself and am depending on officers’ accounts. The defendant did not make a recorded statement, so any admissions, if made, cannot currently be validated,” stated Cook.
“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.”
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 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.
