Royal Hotel pub in Footscray: 12-year-old girl remains in hospital under police guard after being accused of stabbing murder of 37-year-old woman: a glimpse into her tragic life
A 12-year-old girl accused of fatally stabbing an elderly woman is said to have ‘fallen through the cracks of state care’ and been ‘on the rampage’ for years.
Emergency services were called to the former Royal Hotel pub in Footscray at around 2am on Thursday after reports of an altercation and the discovery of a 37-year-old woman allegedly stabbed to death.
The girl, who cannot be identified due to her age, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for medical assessment, where she remains under police guard.
On Thursday evening, she was charged with one count of murder.
It has now emerged that the girl has an intellectual age of six years and has repeatedly gone missing from state care for days. The Herald Sun reported.
Homicide detectives are staying at an inner-city hostel in Melbourne where a woman was stabbed to death early Thursday morning
The hostel on Footscray’s main street remains cordoned off following the fatal stabbing
One source even told the newspaper that the girl was being ‘prostituted’ – or forced into sex work – and was known to Victoria police.
A youth worker told the newspaper they had “never seen a worse example” of a child abandoned by the state, and said her history included illegal drug use.
“No one has done anything about this child’s welfare in the last 12 months,” he said.
“People called the police about this girl and she fell through the cracks.
“This is a welfare issue and no one has picked up on it.”
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing – which is responsible for children in state care – declined to comment.
The child has an intellectual age of six years and has repeatedly gone missing from state care for days
The former historic pub on Barkly Street is now seen as a hostel.
An altercation reportedly broke out on the upper floors, where apartments are now located.
Homicide detectives and forensic officers remained at the cordoned-off crime scene near Footscray’s main shopping street on Thursday morning.
“Investigators are trying to determine whether the parties knew each other,” a police spokesperson said.
The police are calling on anyone who has information, camera images or dashcam images to come forward.
Homicide detectives are still trying to determine whether the woman and girl knew each other. In the photo you see the police at the crime scene
An altercation is said to have broken out in the hostel on the upper floors, where the building has been converted into apartments
Local business owners were shocked to hear about the incident, but noted an increase in crime in recent years.
“After the pandemic, people are so agro, I don’t know what’s going on, they get excited so quickly,” one woman said.
‘I had an incident last night where someone tried to kick in the windows of my shop. I have reported this to the police.’