Woman to stay in custody on child assault charge
A woman charged with assault on a child and disorderly behaviour has been denied bail and remanded in custody for a case review hearing.
Fifty-eight-year-old Margaret Mabel Dodds has been in custody since her arrest, and her application for bail was held over to today for more information and a judge’s decision.
Dodds is a resident of the Seager clinic at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Judge John Macdonald asked the representative from the hospital whether there could be tighter security arrangements at the hospital for Dodds, but was told it was not possible.
Defence counsel Paul Johnson said Dodds would agree not to leave the grounds of the hospital without a carer, and would not go near children under 16.
Dodds told the judge she would not offend or breach her bail, but Judge Macdonald said the conditions were not appropriate and he remanded her in custody until July 29, or until her counsel could arrange an earlier date.
Dodds denies the charge of assaulting a 10-year-old girl by pushing her up against a tree, disorderly behaviour, and two charges of being found unlawfully in yards.
The clinic told the court they did not believe a supervision condition would work because Dodds wanders off while out with a carer, and they cannot touch her to stop her.
Category: Focus
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