ANU Stabber Seeks to Avoid Jury Trial in Canberra Court

Wednesday, 4 September 2024, 22:00

ANU stabber seeks to skip jury trial as his defense lawyer tells the court about a possible mental impairment defense. This contentious case unfolds in Canberra.
Canberratimes
ANU Stabber Seeks to Avoid Jury Trial in Canberra Court

ANU Stabber Seeks to Evade Jury Trial

The man accused of stabbing two Australian National University students in broad daylight aims to skip a jury trial, his defense lawyer revealed in court. Alex Leonard Ophel, 25, previously denied two counts of attempted murder and two counts of common assault after allegedly assaulting four students without provocation in September last year.

Details from the ACT Supreme Court

On Wednesday, Ophel faced the ACT Supreme Court for official arraignment on his two most serious charges regarding the alleged campus attack. He stood firm and denied the charges.

  • Ophel pleads not guilty to two alternative charges of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm.
  • Defense solicitor Tim Sharman stated that the trial's primary issue would be one of mental impairment.
  • Sharman indicated that the matter might be resolved through a consent judgment rather than a full criminal trial.

Next Steps in the Case

Sharman expressed his expectation of receiving an expert report next week, which he intends to share with the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Prosecutor Emma Bayliss noted that the office will evaluate the report before making further decisions.

The case is scheduled to return to court next week, where it will be addressed by a registrar for further directions.


This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.


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