A man accused of stabbing a woman has had the case dismissed on mental health grounds

A man accused of murdering a woman in Cairns has had his case dismissed in court on mental health grounds.

The then 18-year-old man, who the ABC cannot name for legal reasons, is said to have stabbed an 18-year-old woman several times in a Cairns suburb last year.

Police charged him with domestic violence for attempted murder the same day.

“The Mental Health Court found that he was mentally disturbed and the proceedings and charges should be discontinued,” Legal Aid Queensland lawyer Kate Brunger told the Cairns Magistrate’s Court.

Magistrate Terence Browne said proceedings have now been officially stayed following a forensic audit of the case.

“The court finds that the suspect was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the alleged crime,” he told the court.

Ms Brunger told the court the Mental Health Court had made a forensic order that the suspects remain committed to the Park Center for Mental Health in Wacol, Brisbane.

The Public Prosecution Service has not made any statements.