Teen schoolgirl who was stabbed by a classmate reveals why her attacker is still her best friend – and why she's GLAD the vicious assault happened
- Amber Brea Rover appeared in Adelaide District Court via video link on Thursday
- She was found not guilty because she was mentally incompetent at the time
- The victim said she is glad it happened as Ms Rover got mental health assistance
- She's expected to spend time in mental health detention before being released
A teenager stabbed by a classmate at a South Australian high school says her attacker remains her best friend.
The girl, who was 17 at the time of the incident in July last year, told a court she wouldn't change a thing about what happened because it meant her friend got the mental health assistance she needed.
Amber Brea Rover, 19, appeared in Adelaide District Court via video link from a psychiatric facility on Thursday.
She was found not guilty of causing serious harm because she was mentally incompetent at the time of the attack at Renmark High School in South Australia's Riverland region.
Amber Brea Rover, 19, was found not guilty of causing serious harm because she was mentally incompetent at the time of the attack at Renmark High School in South Australia
She's expected to spend a period in mental health detention before being released.
A psychiatric report previously found she suffered from schizophrenia and was psychotic at the time of the stabbing.
Her victim suffered a life-threatening wound which punctured a lung.
In a victim impact statement on Thursday, the injured teen told the court she had thought at the time she might die.
'Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. I wasn't in my own body. I think I came close to dying that day,' she said.
The victim suffered a life-threatening wound which punctured a lung
But the now 18-year-old said she had forgiven Rover, who was described as a 'quiet' girl.
'Forgiveness to me is putting aside your own hurt and loving the person anyway,' she said.
'Her actions weren't those of my best friend but were the actions of an illness that was unknown.'
Share this article
The woman said the pair still shared a 'unique and lifelong' friendship.
Just one week before the incident the pair posed for a selfie together during an interstate school trip to the snow.
'If I could I wouldn't change anything as Amber has had the chance to get the help she needs,' she said.
Rover will return to court in August to set her period of psychiatric detention.
Rover will return to Adelaide District Court in August to set her period of psychiatric detention
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
