Troubling comment girl, 12, accused of murdering a 37-year-old woman in a trendy Melbourne suburb made as she faced court for the first time
- Girl, 12, charged with murder
- Woman, 37, found dead in Melbourne on Thursday
A 12-year-old girl asked a magistrate, “Where am I going?” when she appeared in court charged with the murder of a 37-year-old woman.
The girl was arrested and charged with murder after the woman’s body was found in an apartment in Footscray in Melbourne’s west about 2am on Thursday.
She was brought to juvenile court on Friday, where her lawyer said her detention in a youth center was inappropriate.
He said she would face a range of challenges during her captivity due to her intellectual disability and anxiety.
She will be assessed while in custody, the court was told.
A woman was found dead in an apartment in Melbourne’s west early Thursday
Homicide detectives are pictured at the scene following the alleged stabbing
The lawyer said he planned to apply for bail in the High Court and would explore more suitable housing options, including community housing and room and board.
The public prosecutor asked for a twelve-week extension, but the magistrate rejected this because it was too long.
“Given the unique nature of this case and the custody, the period should be shorter,” he said.
At the end of the brief hearing, the girl asked, “Where am I going?”
The magistrate explained that the police would take her back to the juvenile detention center.
The girl was taken into custody but was later granted bail during a hearing at the High Court late that evening.
She will appear in court again on November 24.
Forensic officers spent Thursday morning at the apartment complex on Barkly Street