Young woman who allegedly knifed her grandmother released on bail
A young woman accused of attempted murder by stabbing her grandmother has been granted bail after her solicitor offered multiple conditions and mental health monitoring upon her release.
Bella-Rose Currie Shields, 21, allegedly attacked her 63-year-old grandmother on May 17, 2023 in a home they shared in the town of Beaudesert, south of Brisbane.
Shields has been in custody for more than 16 months, including five months in a secure mental health ward, and on Tuesday applied for bail in Brisbane Supreme Court.
Justice Thomas Bradley handed down his decision on Wednesday and said the seriousness of the charge against Shields called for a large number of bail conditions.
āIn my view, the risks associated with the applicantās release on bail can be ameliorated to an acceptable level ā¦ she has demonstrated that her continued detention is not justified,ā he said.
Shieldsā solicitor Natalie Keys had previously told Justice Bradley her clientās mental health had improved while in custody.
āSheās certainly doing well. Sheās obtained employment in the kitchen. Itās a position of trust using knives and thatās not done if thereās still a substantial risk,ā Ms Keys said.
Crown prosecutor Jennifer OāBrien said she opposed bail for Shields as she was an unacceptable risk of committing further offences or presenting a danger to the community, even after Ms Keys offered further conditions for her release.
āThe month before (the alleged offence) she barricaded herself in her room and expressed homicidal ideation while she had a large knife,ā Ms OāBrien said.
Ms OāBrien said her primary concern was the risk of Shields breaking her sobriety and using illegal drugs as intoxication was strongly linked to her alleged attack on her grandmother.
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āHer ability to access drugs (will be) high. When she uses drugs her mental health destabilises,ā Ms OāBrien said.
Shields was banned from entering Beaudesert and multiple other Queensland regional areas and must not approach any witnesses or alleged victims.
She must also wear a monitoring device and consent to community support services reporting any failure to follow her mental health treatment plan and any suspected illegal drug use.
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