A Chinese schoolgirl accused of murdering her fellow international student inside a suburban Newcastle home arrived in Australia carrying an ‘extraordinary’ amount of prescription medication.
The 13-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was one of two teenage girls welcomed into the Edgeworth home of host couple Steve Maloney and Tracey Taylor as part of an exchange program.
But what was supposed to be a dream trip to Australia ended in tragedy shortly after 10.30pm on Monday night when Ms Taylor heard a commotion inside her house, went to investigate and found the 14-year-old girl with a stab wound to her torso.
Emergency services rushed to the home on Euston Close and paramedics fought to save the teen before she was rushed to John Hunter Hospital, where she tragically died shortly after she arrived.
A kitchen knife, believed to be the weapon, was seized from the scene by police and is undergoing forensic testing.
The accused 13-year-old was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where she was formally charged with murder on Tuesday night.
At Broadmeadow Children’s Court on Wednesday, the teenager did not appear but was represented by an agent for her solicitor who made no application for bail.
Magistrate Andrew Eckhold said the charge was extremely serious and noted that mental health would be a key factor.
The 13-year-old was one of two teenage girls welcomed into the home Steve Maloney and Tracey Taylor (pictured)
A kitchen knife, believed to be the weapon, was seized from the scene by police (pictured) and is undergoing forensic testing
The girl had brought a substantial array of medication with her when she travelled to Australia
The magistrate revealed the girl had brought a substantial array of medication with her when she travelled to Australia and said the facts provided by the police suggest she may have been ‘dissociated’ at the time of the alleged killing.
‘This is a very complex matter,’ he said. ‘Very sensitive to mental health issues. It will be flagged to the juvenile detention system.’
Her next court appearance has been scheduled for October 7 where she will be provide with a Mandarin interpreter.
They had arrived from China on July 28 and were due to return home on August 16, after attending a local school and visiting tourist sites across the Hunter region.
The host couple had been excitedly preparing for their young guests for weeks and had even joined a local parenting social media page to plan outings for them.
‘I think they decided to take these girls in because of their background working with kids,’ said one neighbour.
‘Steve’s a lovely guy, very friendly. Tracey is a bit more on the quiet side, I think she may be shy and doesn’t talk to the neighbours much, but they are good people.’
It’s believed Mr Maloney works at a local youth detention centre and Ms Taylor is a social worker.
It’s believed Mr Maloney works at a local youth detention centre and Ms Taylor is a social worker
While its not known which study abroad program the students were participating in, according to various agency websites hosts can be paid around $360-$470 per student per week.
The costs very depending on the age and requirements of the students with younger teens being charged more.
A host could be expected to be paid around $2800 for a three week stay for two students.
In exchange hosts are expected to provide a single room and three meals a day.
The pair have since been working closely with investigators.
NSW Police Superintendent Tracey Chapman said they had provided a significant amount of information and were deeply affected by the incident.
‘No doubt this is a shock and a significant event in their lives as well,’ she said.
‘I can’t imagine what they’re going through,’ one neighbour said. ‘It’s absolutely awful.’
Police have confirmed the two girls were not known to one another prior to being part of the same organised student exchange.
But in a heartbreaking twist, the two girls had been seen smiling and giggling just hours before the tragedy, dropped off by a mini bus after what neighbours assumed was a regular school day.
Police have confirmed the two girls were not known to one another prior to being part of the same organised student exchange
‘They looked like any other teenagers,’ said one man who watched them walk up the driveway. ‘They seemed happy. I heard them laughing. Nothing seemed off.’
The crime scene remained taped off well into Tuesday as detectives from Strike Force Aggnes, assisted by the Homicide Squad, combed through the home.
Superintendent Chapman confirmed the investigation involves multiple complexities due to language barriers, consular involvement, and the fact that neither child is an Australian citizen.
‘Obviously it’s a very complex matter, which is why it’s taken us time to work through,’ she said.
Police continue to investigate the exact circumstances that led to the shocking incident and are interviewing fellow students, teachers, and program coordinators in an effort to understand what might have happened between the two girls in the lead-up to the fatal stabbing.
