Source : Perth Now news
A teenage girl on a terrorism charge who allegedly wanted a classmate dead should be released with round-the-clock adult supervision, her bail hearing has been told.
The Darwin girl has been in custody since being charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.
Her arrest on November 3, and that of a 14-year-old boy also charged with terrorism offences, followed a joint investigation by Australian Federal Police, Northern Territory Police and the domestic spy agency Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.
It emerged in court on Friday that the girl allegedly wrote in her diary she wanted a particular student dead as she plotted with her co-conspirator to attack a school.
The teen, who cannot be identified due to her age, attended the bail hearing by video link with many of her family in the public gallery.
Prosecutor Hadi Mazloum told Judge Greg Macdonald the primary concern was the risk to community safety given the extreme seriousness of the alleged offending including the “risk of ideologically motivated violence”.
“The risk to community safety would remain unacceptably high,” he said.
Mr Mazloum referred to the girl’s diary in which she named a particular student at her school she wanted dead.
She also shared a plan with her alleged co-conspirator to carry out a shooting at a school, the prosecutor said.
Defence lawyer Brooke Houen said the charges were serious and there was a presumption against bail apart from exceptional circumstances.
The girl had significant psychological circumstances, being diagnosed with ADHD at age six and it was suspected she had autism.
Being in custody would not be good for her welfare or treatment, especially as there was likely to be a long wait before a NT Supreme Court trial of her case, Ms Houen said.
She argued for a community-based order centred on the girl’s supportive family providing 24/7 adult supervision.
The girl had already been referred to a counter-terrorism rehabilitation program, the court heard.
She was obviously not returning to school but her family was exploring bringing in a private tutor to assist with her educational difficulties given an anticipated diagnosis of autism and dyslexia, Ms Houen said.
Ms Houen said the girl was well aware of the serious charges against her.
“She has assured me of her compliance with any and all bail conditions that the court thinks appropriate.”
“Her primary goal is returning home to her family and she’s willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve that,” Ms Houen said.
Judge Macdonald adjourned the matter to later on Friday.
The girl’s alleged co-conspirator, a 14-year-old Darwin boy, was charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, possessing and sharing extremist material and manufacturing firearms offences.
He has also applied for bail.
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
