Judge John Walker said at that hearing he was satisfied name suppression should be in place for now as there was an “arguable case” for it under the grounds of potential mental health issues, as well as hardship to the woman, her children and the complainant if her name was to be published.
At this week’s appearance, suppression was extended until a proper hearing could be held early next year. The Herald is formally opposing the application.
The woman was supported at the latest hearing by her sister and a friend. She has not entered a plea yet but is expected to do so at another appearance later this month.
She has been remanded on bail until then.
The allegations echo the famous 1993 story of Lorena Bobbitt, an American woman who cut off her then-husband John Wayne Bobbitt’s penis with a kitchen knife.
She later drove around Virginia and threw the penis out the car window. Police were able to find the appendage and it was successfully reattached.
The victim would eventually go on US TV show Scandal Made Me Famous to speak about the incident.
“I looked down and there was blood everywhere … It was a devastating thing to happen to you suddenly. Suicide seemed like the only answer,” he said.
He went on to do multiple interviews about what happened, as well as star in some popular adult films.
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 12 years.
