A youngster doing time at the infamous Banksia Hill institution had her sentence reduced despite having attempted to murder her teacher with a friend.
In November of 2017, two female students aged 13 and 14 stabbed their teacher Colleen Hayes, 55, in the armpit in her office at Willetton Senior High School in Perth.
Prior to the horrifying stabbing, they devised a plan to murder her, which included discussing where to stab her to severe an artery on social media.
One of the girls, now 15 years old, was facing a lengthy sentence but was instead sentenced to three years and one month in the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre, with the possibility of early release after 15 months.
The decision to reduce the sentence was taken by the president of the Children’s Court, Hylton Quail, who learnt during a recent visit to Banksia Hill that children were being subjected to lengthy lockdowns due to persistent staff shortages.
A juvenile incarcerated at the infamous Banksia Hill institution (pictured) has had her sentence reduced despite attempting to murder her teacher with a companion.
In November of 2012, two female students, ages 13 and 14, stabbed their 55-year-old teacher Colleen Hayes in the armpit at Willetton Senior High School in Perth.
A recent judgement by the Supreme Court determined that one juvenile detainee was unjustly confined for twenty hours on twenty-six occasions.
This identical adolescent has been confined to their cell for 24 hours three times in one week.
In the preceding two weeks, the 15-year-old girl spent six days in ‘illegal lockdown,’ which affected Judge Quail’s decision to reduce her sentence.
In Banksia Hill, she lacked access to proper schooling and leisure opportunities.
A recent Supreme Court judgement determined that an adolescent detainee was improperly confined for 20 hours on 26 occasions.
The court heard that the girl, who was 14 at the time of the stabbing, planned the attack with her then-13-year-old buddy via Discord for several weeks. The two also talked about torching the school, as reported by The West.
The co-accused, who received a reduced sentence of eleven months for her role in the crime, initially recommended the stabbing, while the older girl planned the area for the knife wound – determining that the armpit was an excellent position to kill.
The court heard that the older girl told her co-accused that she felt she would serve four to eight years in prison for the offence.
The court heard that the girl, who was 14 at the time of the stabbing, and her then-13-year-old friend spent weeks plotting the crime.
The intended date for the stabbing was November 1, so that the victim could celebrate Halloween first.
On the day of the attack, the girls rode their bicycles to school, where the older girl informed her younger friend that she was carrying a knife.
The younger girl agreed to conceal the blade in her bag because the older girl’s things were being examined due to her history of self-harm and mental health difficulties.
The court was informed that three pupils overheard their chat and tried to dissuade the girl from acting, but they were dismissed.
The conspirators deceived their instructor by claiming, “Miss, I have something for you.”
When questioned whether their surprise was good or negative, the teen responded, “A pleasant surprise.”
The young girls had planned the attack via Discord, but waited until Halloween to carry it out.
By this time, the three pupils who had overheard their conversation had contacted the receptionist, who subsequently instructed the teacher to exit the building.
As the teacher stepped up, the adolescent stabbed her in the armpit with a knife.
The teacher received a 1cm superficial wound, but Judge Quail stated that the attack left her with deep mental scars.
The judge considered the 15-year-guilty old’s plea and the fact that she lacked emotional stability at the time.
According to a psychiatric assessment, she was at risk for developing borderline personality disorder.
Referring to a letter she wrote to the teacher she assaulted in which she admitted felt like a “monster” for her conduct, Judge Quail stated that she had made “amazing” treatment progress.