Police allegedly found a gel blaster firearm and a knife in the Canberra Hospital on 3 June. Photo: ACT Policing.
A patient accused of saying he would “seek redemption” on hospital staff after he was allegedly found with a gel blaster pistol at the facility was granted bail on his second attempt to be released from custody.
Officers arrived at Canberra Hospital on 3 June where they allegedly seized a gel blaster pistol and a knife.
A patient, 36-year-old Luke Jeffrey Trewartha of Chapman, was accused of possessing the items and was refused bail when he first faced the ACT Magistrates Court over the allegations.
He spent about a month behind bars before returning to court to apply for bail again on Wednesday (2 July), which was opposed by the prosecution.
He was also handed extra charges, including trafficking methamphetamine and dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
The prosecutor said according to a bail consideration form written by police, Trewartha allegedly told officers he would “seek redemption” on hospital staff.
The court previously heard he had been in hospital at the time of his arrest due to complications from an injury to his leg after he was stabbed earlier in the year.
On Wednesday, the court heard he had been stabbed in his lung, liver and Achilles tendon.
His lawyer, Alana Clarke of Legal Aid, said he had had difficulties in managing his health issues while in the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
She claimed his leg injury was very serious and wasn’t being managed appropriately in jail.
He’d had four or five trips to hospital since being taken into custody and would need surgery in the near future, she said.
The prosecutor noted while he had returned to hospital since his arrest, this was under the supervision of Corrective Services.
Ms Clarke also described the charges laid on Wednesday as “surprise charges” that she only found out about that morning.
She said it had been her client’s first time in custody and there was nothing in the allegations against him that suggested he committed any violence.
Magistrate James Lawton said it seemed the proposed bail conditions could address the prosecution’s concerns and granted bail.
Trewartha walked out of the courtroom with his foot in a moon boot.
He has indicated not guilty pleas to his initial charges of unauthorised possession of a prohibited firearm, possessing a knife without a reasonable excuse and possessing a drug of dependence. He did not enter pleas to his fresh charges.
The matter will return to court on 7 August.
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