Stabbing accused too ill for court

AAP, Australia/July 11, 2007

An accused murderer who was allegedly denied medical treatment because of her parents' belief in Scientology was too ill to face a Sydney court on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old woman, who cannot be named, is accused of killing her father and her 15-year-old sister and seriously injuring her mother during a stabbing attack at the family home in Revesby, in Sydney's south-west, on Thursday.

During an earlier court appearance, it was alleged the woman's parents refused to allow her follow-up treatment after she was diagnosed with a psychotic illness in late 2006.

It was further alleged the 53-year-old father and 52-year-old mother did not want the woman to take prescribed medicine and started her on non-psychiatric drugs they got from America.

In Burwood Local Court today, legal aid lawyer Patricia Lyden said the woman was too ill to attend court.

She has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

The charges have been adjourned to the same court on September 24, when the woman will appear via audio-visual link.