Stabbing murder accused's blood to be tested for drugs
Police have been granted an order to obtain blood samples as soon as possible from a woman charged with murder so they can be tested for the presence of drugs.
Dorothy James Downie, 55, is accused of fatally stabbing a woman known to her in the Brisbane suburb of Hamilton on Thursday.
She has also been charged with enter with intent.
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Downie was charged by police later on Thursday with her matter briefly heard in the Brisbane Arrests Court on Friday. 9News
Police responded to reports of a disturbance at an address on Oxford Street in Hamilton about 8.45am yesterday, where a woman in her 40s was stabbed several times including in the chest.
She later died of her injuries in hospital.
Downie was charged by police later on Thursday with her matter briefly heard in the Brisbane Arrests Court today, where police sought an urgent forensic order to secure blood samples.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tara Williams said the urgency is in relation to whether there were prescription or non-prescription drugs in her blood at the time of the attack.
"My submission is if it's not dealt with today there is a potential loss of evidence," the court heard.
"Over time, the longer that it takes to deal with this application the levels are going to change Your Honour, it's going to result in incomplete information for the prosecution and for defence to consider."
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Daniel Hannay, representing Downie, said his client has a history of delusions of grandeur and psychosis, and still needs to be seen by a mental health nurse.
The order was granted by Magistrate Andrew Hackett.
Downie was remanded in custody with the matter adjourned until February 14, when she is not required to appear.
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