A 12-year-old girl accused of murder threatened to harm children, staff, and burn down the secure welfare facility she has been bailed to. The details were revealed after Victoria’s Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing lost an attempt to suppress much of the case at the Supreme Court on Dec. 22. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was released to the facility and placed in the care of the department after she was charged with the murder of a 37-year-old woman in Footscray, Melbourne’s inner west on Nov. 16.
A Children’s Court magistrate referred to the case as “unprecedented” due to the complexities around the girl’s young age, intellectual disabilities, and evidentiary hurdles in obtaining consent for her to give a forensic sample. The department supported her application for bail on Nov. 17 but sought to revoke the girl’s bail this week, citing escalated violent behavior and threats made by the 12-year-old.
The 12-year-old made multiple threats to kill staff and other children staying at the facility, along with exhibiting inappropriate behavior. The department argued that the girl should have her bail revoked and be placed into custody at a youth justice facility, where she could undergo treatment. However, a judge rejected the application, as he said he had not received evidence to prove that a youth justice centre would be a better place for the girl. The department had sought to gag large parts of the case, but the judge rejected this due to sufficient protection under the Child, Youth, and Families Act.