Sister slams victim process after sushi chef stabbed in Melbourne CBD

The sister of a woman allegedly stabbed by a stranger in Melbourne’s CBD has revealed she alerted the state government to the horrific incident just a day after it occurred.

Despite raising the alarm on October 3, Ivana Lai, the sister of 36-year-old sushi chef Wan Lai, said nothing tangible happened until after the case was exposed by 7NEWS on October 15.

Emails obtained by 7NEWS.com.au reveal Ivana detailing the terrifying encounter to multiple government departments, seeking help, compensation and accountability.

“I am writing to file the strongest possible formal complaint regarding a horrific, unprovoked knife attack,” Ivana wrote on October 3.

“My sister … had walked less than 100m from her front door when she was randomly attacked with a switchblade and knocked to the ground by a female.”

Brazen daylight stabbing

Lai was walking to work on Little Bourke St on October 2 when she was allegedly stabbed by 32-year-old Lauren Darul near Spencer St about 7.40am.

Darul is due to face court on Tuesday afternoon, where she will apply for bail in relation to the alleged attack.

CCTV footage captured the shocking moment, showing Darul running up behind Lai, wielding a knife and locking eyes with her before allegedly stabbing her in the right side of her chest.

“The stabbing resulted in a hemo-pneumothorax. She required an emergency chest tube insertion, which drained approximately 300ml of blood from her lung cavity,” Ivana said.

“She is currently on a constant regimen of painkillers, antibiotics, and anti-nausea medication.

“The pain is so severe that she has difficulty eating, chewing, and swallowing. Even walking to the bathroom is an immense struggle. Every breath she takes is agony.”

Victim’s fight to be heard

Ivana said she sent emails to the state government, Melbourne City Council and several other organisations, but initially only received a visit from Councillors Gladys Liu and Rafael Camillo.

“They were the first ones to get back to us and visited us in person, which was nice — but in the end, we were back to square one. We still had to apply for assistance ourselves,” Ivana said.

“We’re mostly relying on each other for help — it feels like the government isn’t doing much,” she said a week after the stabbing.

The 39-year-old kindergarten assistant said she and her husband, who also works full time, could only chase updates after work, with little progress.

She followed up again on October 9, and finally heard back from the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet on October 13, which referred her to three departments.

“As your matter falls within the remit of several ministerial portfolios, the Premier has asked that the Department of Premier and Cabinet refer your correspondence to the Minister for Police, The Hon. Anthony Carbines MP, Minister for Health, The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP and the Minister for Housing and Building, The Hon. Harriet Shing MP for consideration,” the email read.

Premier Jacinta Allan publicly responded to the incident on October 16, after CCTV of the stabbing emerged, calling it a “sickening” act of violence.

“I send my support to the victim of this crime and their family,” she wrote on social media.

“The accused offender is currently on remand awaiting court.”

Ivana said she didn’t receive the support she was expecting for her sister.

It wasn’t until October 17 that the family heard from the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety, offering “immediate and longer-term support” to Lai.

“Thank you for your email to the Premier in relation to your sister’s experience as a victim of crime. The Office of Minister for Victims, the Hon Anthony Carbines has asked me to respond,” wrote Carly Edwards, Executive Director of Victim Services.

Edwards said staff from the Victims of Crime Helpline would call Ivana to discuss the support.

“This case finally got the serious, high-level attention it deserved long ago — but it’s obvious that only happened after the news report,” Ivana said.

She was told she’d be contacted within 10 to 15 days, but said she still had no idea when financial support would arrive.

“I never expected the process to be this difficult and slow — it’s not my sister’s fault,” she said.

She criticised the victim support system for shifting the burden back onto victims.

“Victims who have already suffered physically and emotionally should not be forced to bear the additional burden of time, money, and complex bureaucracy on their own,” she said.

“The government’s slow and passive compensation process amounts to a second trauma for law-abiding citizens.”

Accountability lost in system

Ivana also raised questions about Make Room, the supportive housing project where the accused had been living.

“We partnered with the Victorian Government and Unison Housing, a registered community housing provider, and key philanthropic and corporates to make room for people experiencing homelessness in the City of Melbourne,” the project’s website states.

Darul, who was on bail at the time of the alleged stabbing, had been required to attend an appointment for her medication and mental health but failed to do so.

She was also reported missing by a state-run homeless shelter, which notified police and had been searching for her prior to the alleged attack on Lai.

Victorian Housing Minister Harriet Shing replied to Ivana on October 17.

“Thank you for your email of October 3, 2025 advising me of your sister’s condition,” Shing said.

“I appreciate you raising concerns regarding Make Room housing including the current tenant screening processes and the need for increased security at the site.

“While this incident did not occur at the site, I have instructed my department to work closely with the City of Melbourne, Unison Housing, health services and Victoria Police to find a way to further improve safety of all community members, including reviewing the current service delivery model at Make Room.”

In a statement to 7NEWS.com.au, Make Room said it understood the distress caused and that their residents shared similar safety concerns.

“We’re deeply saddened by this incident and are currently keeping in close contact with Victoria Police as they continue their investigation,” a spokesperson said.

“Whilst this incident did not occur at Make Room, we work closely with authorities and our wrap-around support services to find a way to improve safety of all community members.

“All Make Room renters hold standard Residential Tenancy Agreements under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic), pay rent and are subject to the same laws as every other Victorian resident.

“Unison does not have the legal authority to investigate or intervene in alleged criminal matters outside of the building.”

Darul has been charged with two counts of intentionally causing injury and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

She appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 3 and was remanded in custody until her next appearance.

Police confirmed to Lai’s family that Darul will not return to Make Room, but said there is currently no legal mechanism to prevent her from being rehoused near Lai’s new home in the future.

Officers also referred Ivana to MPs for any proposals about Make Room, but MPs said it was not their responsibility.

“This leaves our family trapped in a perfect ‘bureaucratic loop of accountability’, where no department is willing to take responsibility for fixing this serious public safety loophole,” Ivana said.

7NEWS has reached out to the Victorian government for comment.