A WOMAN accused of being behind the start of a street attack in Ballarat's nightclub precinct where a man was stabbed was released from custody yesterday.
Police allege Shannon Jeffrey, 21, stole a man's wallet while he walked through Police Lane about 2.15am on Thursday.
The man approached her but was confronted by two of her male friends in Lydiard St. One of them allegedly threw him to the ground, while another punched him to the head and kneed him as he bent
over in pain.
A Batesford man went to the victim's aid, and one of the attackers allegedly turned on the 22-year-old, pulling out a knife and stabbing him in the stomach. He remained in hospital yesterday.
Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Paul Jolly told a bail application hearing in the Ballarat Magistrates Court that police opposed Jeffrey being granted bail because she
was an unacceptable risk of reoffending and endangering the public's safety.
He said she had prior assault convictions, was on bail at the time of the street attack and pleaded guilty to a drug charge on the same day as the attack.
Det Sen Const Jolly said Jeffrey had been charged with two offences over an assault on two women at the Minerdome two weeks ago.
Defence lawyer Mike Wardell argued that Jeffrey left Police Lane after she took the man's wallet and did not return when the two victims were assaulted.
Magistrate Lionel Winton-Smith granted Jeffrey bail with conditions, including that she report to police three times a week, live at a static address, abide by a curfew and not enter the city's licensed
venues. She was ordered to reappear at court on April 22.
Jeffrey, of Ballarat East, has been charged with theft, assault in company and unlawful assault.
Another man, Trent Bunney, 18, of Ballarat, accused of driving the co-accused around while disqualified, was also granted bail. He will reappear on April 22.
Darcy Lee Croezen, 20, and Harley Cannard, 20, were remanded in custody until Monday.
Croezen, of Mt Clear, is charged with intentionally causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury, assault in company and theft. Cannard, of Newington, faces intentionally causing injury, theft
and assault in company.
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