A South Carolina woman accused of stabbing her Lyft driver eleven times before stealing his car was denied bond Friday as her attorney argued she was in the grip of a severe mental health crisis.
Naziyha Weatherall, 22, faces charges of attempted murder, carjacking and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in Greenville County stemming from the April 22 incident, court records show. Prosecutors called the allegations a “frightening factual scenario” during the bond hearing and argued Weatherall posed an extreme danger to the community.
“The victim was simply just trying to do his job and was stabbed 11 times,” a solicitor said, according to FOX Carolina. “Not only was he stabbed 11 times, his car was then carjacked by this defendant.”
The driver’s wife appeared in court on his behalf, explaining that the trauma of the alleged attack prevented him from attending. She spoke directly about the broader implications of the violence her husband endured while simply working.
“What concerns us most is that happened while my husband was simply working,” she said. “He was not looking for any confrontation, he was providing a service to a person. If this level of violence could happen to someone who was simply doing his job, we are concerned about potential risks to other people in our community.”
Weatherall’s lawyer pressed the court to view the allegations through the lens of her mental state, noting she had never previously been charged with a crime. The attorney said paranoia had convinced Weatherall that others were monitoring her and trying to harm her, which prompted her to summon a ride specifically to report her fears to police.
“Her mother even called the police station to let them know she was on the way to make a report,” the attorney said. “During that, the crisis got worse.”
The defense elaborated that Weatherall believed she was being trafficked, panicked during the ride and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. The attorney said Weatherall is now medicated, stable and competent, and asked the court to release her so relatives and a social worker could arrange placement at a treatment facility.
Weatherall’s mother apologized to the driver’s family while pleading for the court to consider her daughter’s mental state.
“She’s not a criminal. She would never, ever, ever hurt anybody like that,” her mother said. “And I understand the family’s side, I truly do, because we are all suffering. We all are.”
The charges against Weatherall originate from an April 22 incident in which she allegedly ordered a Lyft ride, then stabbed her driver in the head eleven times before fleeing in his vehicle. A judge had previously ordered competency and observation evaluations in June, court records show. On Friday, the judge denied Weatherall’s bond request and ordered that she remain jailed pending a psychological evaluation scheduled for September.
Lyft said it permanently removed the rider accounts involved from its platform and has continued assisting law enforcement.
“Violence like this has no place in the Lyft community or in our society,” a Lyft spokesperson said. “The driver’s well-being has been our priority, and we have reached out to them and their family to offer support.”
Weatherall remains in custody pending her September psychological evaluation.
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