Boy accused of stabbing SW bus driver to appear in Perth
A 13-year-old boy from the South West accused of attempting to stab a bus driver will be transferred to Perth for his next hearing.
The boy, who cannot be identified, appeared in the Bunbury Children’s Court this afternoon charged with one count of acts intended to harm or endanger the life or safety of another person.
Duty lawyer Derek Hunter applied for the boy to be assessed by a mental health liaison officer over a suggestion an incident on Saturday had sparked the alleged assault.
However, Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said this service was not available in country areas and refused to commit the boy to an institution, either the Franklin Centre or Bentley Hospital, without evidence.
Instead, she ordered the boy be kept in custody and sent to the Banksia Hill Detention Centre to be assessed by a medical professional.
Evidence from that assessment could be presented in the Perth Children's Court on Thursday.
Magistrate Scaddan also rejected an application for a suppression order or the court be closed to the public, except for the boy's family.
The incident happened on a bus that was stopped on Mardo Avenue in Australind at 8am yesterday.
The alleged victim, a 69-year-old woman, suffered cuts to her arms and chest and was taken to Bunbury Hospital but was later released.
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