A Greenville County judge denied bond Friday for Naziyha Weatherall, a South Carolina woman charged with attempted murder, carjacking, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime after allegedly stabbing a Lyft driver 11 times and taking his vehicle on April 22. The ruling keeps Weatherall jailed pending a psychological evaluation scheduled for September.
The core of the defense argument at Friday's hearing was mental state. Weatherall's attorney told the court she had no prior criminal record and was in the grip of a psychiatric emergency during the alleged attack. Paranoia had convinced her, the attorney said, that she was being monitored and that others intended her harm. She had summoned the Lyft ride to report those fears to police, and her mother had already called the police station to say she was on the way.
The attorney also said Weatherall believed during the ride that she was being trafficked, and that the crisis worsened before the alleged attack. She has since been diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. The defense described her as medicated, stable, and competent at present, and asked the court to release her into the care of family members and a social worker who could arrange placement at a treatment facility.
The driver did not attend. His wife appeared on his behalf and told the court that trauma from the alleged attack had kept him away, and that violence against someone simply working raised real concerns about risks to others in the community.
Prosecutors called the allegations a "frightening factual scenario" and argued Weatherall posed an extreme danger to the community. A solicitor, as cited by FOX Carolina, said the driver had been doing nothing but his job when he was stabbed 11 times and then carjacked. Weatherall's mother also addressed the court, apologizing to the driver's family and asking the judge to weigh her daughter's mental state. She said her daughter would never willingly harm anyone, and acknowledged that both families were suffering.
Court records show a judge ordered competency and observation evaluations in June. Lyft told Fox News Digital it permanently removed the rider accounts involved from its platform and has continued assisting law enforcement. A company spokesperson said the driver's well-being has been the company's priority and that Lyft has reached out to the driver and his family to offer support.