Court hears of horror stabbing that offender blames on Ozempic

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court she does not remember stabbing her daughter-in-law and grandson. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale) An Illawarra woman stabbed multiple times by her mother-in-law last June has told a court she continues to be haunted by the roadside attack. The offender admitted to forcing the family car to pull over at Wongawilli before stabbing her 27-year-old daughter-in-law and 10-year-old grandson. Judge Imad Abdul-Karim will hand down his sentence in late June. Link copiedShareShare articleA sentencing hearing has been told of the pain and grief caused by a grandmother who stabbed her daughter-in-law and grandson during a roadside attack in the Illawarra last year. The now 60-year-old offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to forcing the family car to pull over at Wongawilli, south of Wollongong, before stabbing her 27-year-old daughter-in-law in the abdomen and her 10-year-old grandson in the neck. She pleaded guilty to two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in April, but had previously told the court her actions may have been caused by the side effects of Ozempic. Victim impact statements from the mother and a written letter from the grandchild were heard in court today, as other family members, including the offender's daughter, looked on. "It's been a year of grief, pain and worry around me," the mother told the court via audiovisual link, with the faint cries of her newborn daughter heard in the background. "I carry three scars on the side of my chest, which I try to conceal every day. The 60-year-old woman was arrested by police at nearby Horsley the following morning and has been in custody since. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale) The court heard she had been unable to return to her job in the medical field due to the "presence of blood and sharp objects". "I flinch at the drop of a spoon or if I touch a kitchen knife," the mother said. Wiping away tears, she went on to read comments written by her son in consultation with his psychologist. "I didn't like how [my grandmother] ran to the car … she got me, and I felt something sharp," the court heard. "I miss my son's untainted look on life … the safety he once knew," the mother added. Dressed in prison greens and clenching a tissue, the offender appeared via audiovisual link from inside protective custody, where she has been for more than eight months. She told the court she had no recollection of the attack, despite confessing to her son and daughter shortly after returning to her granny flat near the family home. She did, however, admit to throwing the 15-centimetre fishing knife she used to stab her family members out of her car window while leaving the scene. The matter was heard at Wollongong District Court on Thursday. (ABC Illawarra: Brooke Chandler) "If that's what I told police, then yes," the offender told the court. "It's all a big blur. All I remember is getting back to the house." While tendering documents, the defence told the court psychological experts had suggested the offender's violent actions may have been influenced by prescription weight-loss drugs. The Crown prosecutor told the court the offender asked which route the victims would be taking to judo practice and followed them with the intent to scare them. "I do not accept evidence that she was simply curious … there was pre-planning here to some extent," she said. Police searched a residential area of Wongawilli shortly after the alleged attack for a weapon. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Hunstdale) The court heard black latex gloves worn during the incident were stored alongside the weapon inside the console of the offender's vehicle. "They were for my cleaning job. I kept everything in my car," the offender said. The court heard the offender misunderstood the grounds of a five-year apprehended violence order taken out by her son and his family, and penned an apology letter to him. "I wanted to tell him how sorry I am, that I didn't know what I was doing, and that I love them all very much," she said. Judge Imad Abdul-Karim will hand down his sentence in late June. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Family and domestic violence support:1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277NSW Domestic Violence Line:1800 656 463Qld DV Connect Womensline:1800 811 811Vic Safe Steps crisis response line:1800 015 188ACT 24/7 Crisis Line:(02) 6280 0900Tas Family Violence Counselling and Support Service:1800 608 122SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line:1800 800 098WA Women's Domestic Violence 24h Helpline:1800 007 339NT Domestic violence helpline:1800 737 732Top StoriesHere's how the Coles Down Down campaign duped shoppersTopic:Courts

Court hears of horror stabbing that offender blames on Ozempic

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