A 23-year-old woman charged over an aggravated home invasion in Ballarat East, where the owner was stabbed and arm broken, should be bailed because she was not the perpetrator, a court has been told.
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Police allege Teagan Broadway-Marks and co-accused Nikkita Thomas kicked down the victim’s front door and entered the Rogers Court house while the victim slept at 5.10am on September 23.
Police informant Detective Senior Constable Scott Howard told a bail application hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday an argument, followed by a struggle, occurred in the hallway.
He said an unidentified male co-accused was also at the property when the victim was stabbed with a pickaxe and hit with a hammer, causing a broken arm.
The court was told the victim allegedly stabbed Broadway-Marks with a knife a number of times before she fled the property in a car with the two co-accused.
Broadway-Marks, Thomas and the unidentified male allegedly attended the same property the day before but were refused entry.
Detective Senior Constable Howard said police could not confirm who was armed but did not want Broadway-Marks released on bail because of her risk to the community’s safety and failing to appear in court.
“(The victim) is currently scared about the whole incident. She has sought refuge at another house. She believes retribution is going to happen to her,” Detective Senior Constable Howard said.
He said the pickaxe and hammer had not been found but the police investigation was continuing.
Detectives were also working to finding the third co-accused, the court was told.
Defence lawyer Taina Lefort told the court her client went to the house to help her friend, Thomas, collect her belongings and dog which she believed had been damaged by a fire.
She said she understood Broadway-Marks tried to disarm the victim’s knife during the altercation.
“She was not perpetrating any violence; she was the recipient of violence,” said Ms Lefort, who stated the prosecution case was weak.
The court was told Broadway-Marks had stable accommodation, family support, was drug-free and was suitable for the Court Integrated Services Program.
But magistrate Gregory Robinson said these submissions did not amount to exceptional circumstances for bail.
He said the charges were very serious, which include aggravated home invasion and intentionally causing serious injury. Broadway-Marks was remanded in custody.
