Accused Melbourne CBD stabber Lauren Darul’s bail revoked two days after being granted for medical treatment
The accused stabber of sushi chef Wan Lai in Melbourne’s CBD will be returned to prison after his bail was revoked.
Lauren Darul, 33, who now uses he/him pronouns, was granted bail on Wednesday for medical treatment — before prosecutors applied for the decision to be overturned during a brief Victorian Supreme Court hearing on Friday morning.
Justice Rita Incerti granted the revocation application, citing fresh medical material provided to the court.
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Incerti had earlier approved Darul’s bail application under strict conditions, allowing him to seek medical treatment.
Darul has complex psychological issues, including ADHD, cognitive impairment and schizophrenia, and is transitioning to become a man, the court was told.
Incerti ordered he had to continue compulsory treatment at forensic mental health facility Thomas Embling Hospital until a bed could be found at the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s psychiatric in-patient unit.
Once medical staff were satisfied his mental health was being adequately managed, the justice said Darul would be able to make another bail application to be released into the community.
But Incerti on Friday said it was clear the circumstances had changed, and Darul’s bail should be revoked.
She told Darul that once hospital staff determined he was fit for discharge, he would be returned to prison.
Darul’s previous bid for freedom was denied in November due to a history of breaches, including 16 arrest warrants for failing to answer bail or appear in court.
Wan Lai, 36, was walking along Little Bourke Street on October 2 when Darul allegedly ran up behind her and stabbed her in the upper body about 7.35am.
The accused then ran off, leaving Lai crouched over on the side of the footpath before she was taken to hospital suffering bleeding around her lung.
Darul was arrested 90 minutes later after being tracked to his housing provider Unison, where a 10cm kitchen knife allegedly used in the attack was found.
He has been charged with recklessly and intentionally causing injury and committing an offence while on bail.
Darul had been in custody until Wednesday.
He is due to return to court in January.
- With AAP
Originally published on 7NEWS
