- Updated
- National
- WA
- Public transport
This was published 4 months ago
Perth teens who ‘attacked elderly man on Karrinyup bus’ tearful as bail refused
By Heather McNeill
Two Perth teenagers are accused of stabbing an elderly man on a bus on Sunday afternoon.
A WA Police spokeswoman said Jasmine Alderson, 18, and her 17-year-old accomplice were travelling on a bus in Karrinyup around 5.30pm when they allegedly began verbally abusing a passenger they didn’t know.
“As the male passenger attempted to get away from the pair, he was physically assaulted by the 17-year-old female juvenile who then produced a box cutter,” she said.
“A 74-year-old male passenger attempted to intervene when, it will be further alleged, he was physically assaulted by the pair and stabbed several times with the box cutter.”
The teens exited the bus and were arrested a short time later.
The elderly man, who was trying to shield his wife when he was allegedly targeted by the teens, suffered several cuts to his head, face and body.
The 17-year-old, from Duncraig, has been charged with unlawful wounding.
Alderson, from Como, has been charged with aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm.
During the 17-year-old’s Perth Magistrate’s Court appearance on Monday, the incident was described by police prosecutors as a “violent attack on a complete stranger”.
It’s alleged that Alderson initiated the verbal abuse. The 17-year-old then allegedly carried out the attack with the box cutters while Alderson simultaneously punched the victim.
The 17-year-old has never been to court before.
She will remain in custody for a second night to appear in Perth Children’s Court on Tuesday for a bail application, which is opposed by prosecutors, who claim the girl has shown no remorse.
Alderson, who cried throughout most of her hearing, was also refused bail after her lawyer argued she was so intoxicated, she does not recall much of the attack.
She will appear in court again next week.
In response to the violent attack, Premier Roger Cook described the incident as traumatic.
“We actually have had a reduction in youth crime over the years, but what we see is the escalation of these particularly nasty incidences, and I’m pleased that the Department of Transport now have an extensive CCTV system in place to make sure we can get on top of these situations are quickly as possible,” he said.
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