South Australian woman who stabbed best friend to be released from psychiatric facility

A woman who was suffering from undiagnosed schizophrenia and stabbed her classmate at Renmark High School in 2018 will be discharged from an Adelaide forensic facility today.

Amber Brea Rover, 23, was found not guilty of aggravated causing serious harm due to mental incompetence.

The victim, who was 17 years old at the time, suffered a life-threatening stab injury to her lung and had to be airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The District Court heard Ms Rover was ready to be released from James Nash House, after a medical report was provided to Judge Jo-Anne Deuter.

“In line of the report the agreement issued between the parties is that Ms Rover is ready for discharge,” her counsel Andrew Ey said.

The court heard regular reports had been issued on Ms Rover’s progress since the July 2018 incident.

“There is also a report from the victim and next of kin which supports the release,” Judge Deuter said.

The prosecutor told the court it was appropriate she was discharged.

“The treating team believe it is important that she is released during the time where she has the extensive support of the forensic mental health team,” the prosecutor said.

Judge Deuter told Ms Rover, who appeared via video link from James Nash House, that she supported her discharge.

“Ms Rover, it’s been a while since I’ve been managing your matter – I do wish you all the best,” she said.

“You still — for the next weeks obviously can access the treatment.”

“Thank you”, Ms Rover replied.

‘I won’t ever blame Amber’

The court previously heard the victim thought she was going to die from her injuries.

“Everything seemed to happen in slow motion; I wasn’t in my own body,” she said in her victim impact statement.

“I had no concept of time … it was just so strange and surreal.

“I think I came close to dying that day. I felt a rush of calm and a feeling it was OK to go.”

She told the court previously “it was the most physically painful thing” she had ever felt.

“Re-inflating my lung was the most physically challenging thing I have ever had to do, but I got through it,” she said.

“The whole experience was traumatic.

“Nothing seemed real or made sense, all I needed was an answer from my best friend.

“It was a very scary place for me, as my life before this was incredibly less confusing, including my friendship with Amber.”

Despite her painful recovery, the court heard the victim had a “unique and lifelong friendship” with Ms Rover and regularly visits her and speaks to her on the phone.

“I won’t ever blame Amber Brea Rover for the actions that happened on the day of the 24th of July 2018,” the victim said.

“Those actions weren’t that of my best friend. It was an action of an illness that was unknown.

“Amber is still my best friend. That has not changed.”