Overview
- Wan Lai, 36, was stabbed on October 2 near Little Bourke and Spencer streets, suffered a punctured lung and hemopneumothorax, and was discharged after three days in hospital.
- Her family says she is healing physically but remains afraid to go out alone, has moved home and has not returned to work.
- Police charged 32-year-old Lauren Darul with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and committing an indictable offence while on bail; she was remanded after an October 3 court appearance and will apply for bail on Tuesday.
- Media reports link Darul to the Make Room supported-housing initiative and say she missed a required mental-health appointment before the incident, with police searching for her at the time.
- CCTV of the attack intensified political and civic responses, with Premier Jacinta Allan calling the assault “absolutely sickening” and Melbourne moving to expand street CCTV as debate over crime and public safety grows.