Lauren Darul is currently seeking bail after facing charges of recklessly and intentionally causing injury. This follows an incident where she allegedly stabbed Wan Lai while the latter was en route to work in central Melbourne. Compounding her legal troubles, Darul is also accused of committing an offence while already on bail.
During today’s session at the Melbourne Magistrates Court, it emerged that Darul’s housing provider, Unison, has issued her an eviction notice contingent upon her release on bail. This decision was based on concerns about the potential danger she might pose to the community, other tenants, and staff members.
Darul’s life has been marked by periods of homelessness and unstable living conditions. Additionally, she has been grappling with bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. Her struggles are further complicated by a long-standing history of substance abuse, which includes alcohol, methylamphetamine, and ice.
Constable Damian Elliott provided testimony to the court, expressing the belief that Darul’s dependencies on drugs and alcohol might lead to future criminal behavior.
Speaking via video link, Darul conveyed a desire to turn her life around. “I want to clean up my life and stay off the drugs,” she stated firmly. “I don’t intend on going back on the ice.”
“I don’t intend on going back on the ice.”
But the crown prosecutor opposed her bail application, citing an unacceptable risk to the community if she was released and her history of alleged bail breaches.
The victim and her family were also extremely distressed by the possibility the accused would allowed back into the community.
Lai had been walking on a footpath about 7.35am on October 2 when Darul allegedly ran up from behind and stabbed her in the upper body.
Emergency services arrived to find an extremely distressed Lai, who was taken to hospital with a punctured right lung and bleeding around the lung, Const Elliott told the court.
Darul, 32, was arrested 90 minutes later after officers tracked her down at her housing provider Unison, where she revealed a 10cm silver kitchen knife allegedly used in the attack.
Lai has been discharged and was getting better, but has relocated due to the ongoing psychological trauma she experiences from living near the location of her alleged stabbing.
Const Elliott said he believed the accused posed too great a risk to the community to be bailed, citing the brazen and unprovoked nature of the alleged stabbing and her propensity to flout bail.
The court was told Darul was subjected to bail or summons on 19 outstanding matters at the time of offending and had a criminal history that dated back to 2016, including multiple charges of motor and shop thefts and failing to comply with bail conditions.
But Darul’s lawyer argued that she had a range of services on hand to support her if she is released on bail which can ameliorate the risk of reoffending.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Timothy Bourke will hand down his bail decision tomorrow.
