A mother has told a court she was caught up in her 17-year-old son's "love triangle" when she allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend at Woden bus interchange.
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The 37-year-old woman is accused of pushing the 16 year old and telling her, "I'm sick of your shit c---"; moments later, her son allegedly stabbed the girl and punched her in the face.
The woman's son has also been arrested over the incident. Neither can be named for legal reasons.
Representing herself via audio visual link in court, the woman told Magistrate James Stewart, "I know I'm not guilty".
Her former lawyer indicated last week she would plead to that effect.
The woman told the court, "I've been caught up in a love triangle", and said she had visited another of her sons in jail before she got to the bus interchange on the afternoon of January 12.
The woman said she and her 17-year-old son had seen his ex-girlfriend with another boy. Her son allegedly approached him with a knife, and the girl told him to "f--- off", the court heard.
Police allege the woman's son went back to his mother while he was still in possession of the knife, before the pair approached the girl together and the woman assaulted her.
The son allegedly then stabbed the girl twice with the knife. The woman told the court, "All I've done is push her away ... next thing I know ... [we] were all on the ground".
The woman said she knew "nothing about no stabbing", and "it all happened too quick".
She said she had been "deadset dumbfounded" when she was arrested about 7.30pm the same day, but told her son he couldn't run from police officers when he was also arrested.
The woman said her son and the girl had broken up about six months before the alleged attack. "My son had had enough with the violence in the relationship and I put an end to it," she told the court.
She said she wanted to be bailed from custody to take care of her children, and she didn't know how people could handle being in the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
"I've got too much to lose ... I wouldn't assault a 16-year-old girl," she told the court.
Mr Stewart described the allegations as "pretty serious", and told the court: "The trouble is, police say you are the aggressor and your son produced a knife".
Mr Stewart adjourned the matter because of a conflict of interest; he said he had had professional dealings with people mentioned in the case when he was a barrister.
The woman did not enter a formal bail application, but is expected to at her next court appearance later this month.
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
