An nineteen-year-old woman who stabbed her best friend at a South Australian high school last year was today granted supervised day release from a secure mental health facility, after a court ruled last month she had undiagnosed schizophrenia at the time of the attack.
ABC reports District Court Judge Jo-Anne Deuter today handed Amber Brea Rover a five-year, six month stint at Adelaide’s James Nash House, after Rover caused life-threatening injuries to her friend at Renmark High School in July last year.
A court had found her not guilty of causing serious harm with intent due to her mental incompetence at the time of the incident.
Rover’s stay at the facility was shortened to four years and five months to account for her time already served. She was also permitted supervised day release by the court.
The case made headlines last month when the 18-year-old victim, who was 17 at the time of the attack, affirmed her continual friendship with Rover.
“She continues to visit you and support you and your recovery, and that says a great deal about the strong friendship,” Deuter told Rover in court today.
Despite the lack of animosity between the teens, Deuter said the serious nature of the incident means Rover should not yet reenter the general community as she receives treatment.
Speaking outside the court today, the victim told ABC she was focussed on offering “support and forgiveness” to Rover.
That sentiment mirrors her earlier statements.
“I wouldn’t change anything,” she told the court in July, “as Amber has had the chance to get the help she needs and I have grown up so much from this experience.”
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