Mount Helen, Ballarat: Cheryl Lucas charged with murder after 47yo man allegedly stabbed to death

A woman charged with murder after a man was allegedly stabbed to death at a Ballarat home has made her first appearance in court.

Cheryl Lucas, 38, appeared briefly in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Monday, two days after her arrest at her Mount Helen home.

Wearing a pink oversized shirt, Ms Lucas sat hunched in the dock flanked by two custody officers while several people watched on from the public gallery.

Police will allege Ms Lucas stabbed a 47-year-old man at the Park Lane address shortly before 8am on Saturday.

The relationship between the pair is unclear, however a police spokeswoman confirmed it would be alleged they were known to each other.

The court was told it was alleged the man was killed in circumstances of family violence.

Emergency services attended the home and performed CPR on the man but he was declared dead at the scene.

Ms Lucas was arrested at the scene, with Victoria Police announcing they laid a murder charge later that afternoon following an interview.

Ms Lucas was not required to speak during her brief appearance, seeming to listen intently as Magistrate Julia Barling outlined the court process ahead of her.

Ms Lucas’ lawyer Erin Churchill requested her client be seen by a doctor “in respect to mental health concerns”.

She told the court it was Ms Lucas’ first time in custody.

Ms Lucas was remanded in custody, with her case due to return to court in mid-April.

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