A 33-year-old former Aboriginal community board member who stands accused of fatally stabbing her long-term partner has been granted bail by Victoria’s highest court, in a ruling that cited highly unusual personal and procedural circumstances as justification for the decision.
Megan Solomon is charged with the murder of 43-year-old Leon Strickland, who died following a single stab wound to the heart during an altercation at the couple’s shared home in the small eastern Victorian country town of Orbost in December 2024. Police allege the romantic pairing, which began in 2011, had long been a volatile, mutually abusive dynamic, with both parties telling loved ones they had been on the receiving end of family violence from the other.
Court documents outline that the fatal confrontation unfolded on the evening of December 11, when an argument escalated after Strickland allegedly attempted to headbutt Solomon in their kitchen. Prosecutors allege that after Strickland laughed at the small paring knife Solomon had picked up during the clash, she stabbed him once through the chest, piercing his aorta and causing a fatal 5-centimeter wound. Following the stabbing, Solomon immediately contacted emergency services and began administering CPR to Strickland as he lost consciousness, court documents confirm.
Solomon applied for bail ahead of her scheduled murder trial, which is not set to begin until February 2027. After a two-day hearing, Supreme Court Justice Amanda Fox granted the bail application on Thursday, ruling that Solomon’s unique circumstances qualified as extraordinary grounds for release ahead of trial.
Key factors that swayed the court’s decision included the comprehensive support network already arranged for Solomon: she has secured pre-approved housing and dedicated mental health counselling, and has received an offer to return to her role at the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association. The court also noted Solomon had no prior criminal convictions, an extensive, well-regarded professional history working in Aboriginal community health and education, and a record of significant contributions to Indigenous communities across the state through her service on the boards of multiple Aboriginal and Koori community organizations.
Justice Fox further found there was no credible evidence to support claims that Solomon would pose a risk of interfering with witnesses if released, and the court heard that her physical and mental health had declined sharply during her time in pre-trial custody.
During the hearing, Homicide Squad Detective Senior Constable Cassandra Syddall told the court that hundreds of audio recordings recovered from Solomon’s phone document the couple’s “extremely toxic” relationship. Syddall highlighted two particularly aggressive recorded statements from Solomon, including one where she said “I wish someone would punch your head in so you can understand better” and another where she urged “you should just kill yourself, no one would miss you.”
Justice Fox confirmed in her ruling that Solomon’s legal team will mount a self-defence argument at trial, noting that the question of whether prosecutors can prove the necessary murderous intent will ultimately be decided by a jury. Solomon will next appear in court for a case management hearing in October 2025.
Strict bail conditions have been imposed to govern her release: she is barred from leaving Victoria, must report to local police twice weekly, and is prohibited from entering Orbost except for visits to her father’s residence.