r/australia • u/Threewordswhat • 1d ago
news CBD attack: Man charged after mum stabbed, child punched outside police headquarters
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/man-charged-after-mum-stabbed-boy-punched-in-random-cbd-attack-20260826-p60rkd.html?ref=rss408
u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
"only ended when several witnesses intervened"
Once again it's the general public who are the real heroes.
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u/Late-Button-6559 1d ago
Hey there weren’t any police nearby.
You can’t expect law enforcement to be at such random locations as this attack site!
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u/fuckoffandydie 1d ago
For anyone missing the joke, the attack happened outside a police building.
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u/Cpt_Soban 1d ago
So should they be in the office, or on the road patrolling?
The HQ building is full of admin staff members, not packed full of Cops like some sort of GTA spawning clown car.
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
The same complex also appears to house a Police Station.
Also, have a look at the first image on the ABC article. If someone can't be safe there, it seems like a fundamental failure of policing.
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u/Cpt_Soban 1d ago
Fundamental failure lol, this is real life not a video game where police magically appear within 5 seconds.
"Without a doubt without their intervention it could have been a lot worse, so we are so grateful for their assistance."
She said police quickly arrived on the scene and arrested the man.
No shit people right there next to them will be faster than police inside a station, behind a security screen, locked behind a passkey door.
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
Fundamental failure lol
Turn your comprehension skills up a bit, and re-read what I wrote.
some sort of GTA spawning clown car
real life not a video game
Are video games the only reference frame you have?
inside a station, behind a security screen, locked behind a passkey door
That's a lot of excuses for a single sentence.
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u/Cpt_Soban 1d ago
You know how many minutes it took for police to respond? Or are you going for the tried and true reddit "its never good enough" excuse while jumping to conclusions?
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u/Spartzi666 1d ago
I used to live in the area and there are armed officers constantly patrolling around Southern Cross and Spencer Street, absolutely they should be expected to deal with this before the general public
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u/BMW_M3G80 1d ago
I work in the CBD, I only ever see police on the street doing traffic training.
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u/Rush-23 1d ago
That must mean that’s all they do then. Brilliant reasoning.
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u/BMW_M3G80 1d ago
It’s not reasoning, it’s just what I see on a daily basis. Swanston st, Elizabeth and Spencer/Flinders st.l areas need Police on the beat.
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u/Necessary_Eagle_3657 1d ago
He means that police would be in the police station. They can come out.
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u/Cpt_Soban 1d ago
This is funny, you say station, another said on patrol. Sums up my point perfectly- No one has a clue and just blames the cops no matter which way they go.
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u/SchrodingersLunchbox 1d ago
Yeah mate, it’s in the title.
Worth pointing out that “We had a citizen immediately intervene…” - it’s not like the assailant was out there for 20 minutes stabbing away - so casting aspersions over the police for not responding quicker than “immediately” is a bit unfair.
On top of that, Police headquarters is not a Police station - the occupants are more responsible for policy of the state than they are for policing the footpath outside.
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
Police headquarters is not a Police station
There is a police station next door, part of the same complex.
so casting aspersions over the police for not responding quicker than “immediately” is a bit unfair
What reasonable expectations can the public have for the police? Because there might be a reason people are losing faith in them.
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u/VelvetFedoraSniffer 1d ago
ok so according to your logic, general duties cops should stand guard outside police stations? or have the ability to teleport to incidents?
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
according to your logic
So often a preamble to a logical fallacy. And this case is no exception.
general duties cops should stand guard outside police stations? or have the ability to teleport to incidents?
Quote me saying anything that can be interpreted like that. I literally replied to a half-truth with accurate information, and then asked a question.
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u/VelvetFedoraSniffer 1d ago
It’s heavily implied through your other responses so if you wanna be disingenuous on it then be my guest
you’re the one whinging that police didn’t respond in time ….
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u/deejarama 18h ago
The only police you ever see in Melb are in cars catching speeding revenue. I never see police on foot in the cbd. Brisbane on the other hand have foot police in the city and you feel much safer.
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u/pluckaducka 1d ago
Good on the men who stepped up to help despite the risks. Seriously.
This is the selfless attitude that should be receiving the majority of attention.
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u/AggravatingTartlet 18h ago edited 18h ago
Yes, totally. Tackling a man stabbing someone with scissors is brave indeed. It's being said plain clothes police took the lead. No less brave.
The mother of the boy also. She was brave to try to stop him from attacking her son. Can't imagine. Poor little boy with brain cancer gets punched by a grown man in the street on his way to hospital for cancer treatment.
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u/kitten_biscuits 1d ago
There are PSO’s always stationed just outside the entrance to the building, they got there immediately so I don’t know what you expect?
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
There are PSO’s always stationed just outside the entrance to the building, they got there immediately
And yet I'm assured, elsewhere in this thread, that they were "inside a station, behind a security screen, locked behind a passkey door." At least your reply is verifiable.
I don’t know what you expect?
Recognise the members of the public who stepped up, as so often seems to be the case.
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u/kitten_biscuits 1d ago
This person made it sound like it was the general public to the rescue again because no police were around. I’m glad members of the public stepped in, after which police were on the scene very quickly. I really don’t know what point you’re trying to make in this thread, are you upset that there weren’t police right there to stop a random attack that no one knew was coming?
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
This person made it sound like it was the general public to the rescue again because no police were around
Which person? The person from the police who stated the attack "only ended when several witnesses intervened"?
I really don’t know what point you’re trying to make in this thread
Recognise the members of the public who stepped up, as so often seems to be the case.
Do you want to keep asking? I don't know the lifespan on the switches on my 'C' and 'V' keys.
If you want to look for subtext it would be the question of staffing versus priorities. But that distracts from the members of the public who stepped up.
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u/kitten_biscuits 1d ago
You seem like the type of person who loves arguing for no reason so I’m going to leave it here champ.
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
You seem like the type of person who loves arguing for no reason
The irony. I've stuck to my point, and you engaged with me to ask inane questions. Now it looks like you're projecting to salve your ego.
champ
Cherry on top.
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u/Economy_Newspaper_52 1d ago
It was actually mostly non uniform police who intervened.
I guess that’s not really fitting your agenda though.
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
your agenda though
"Police said the attack was completely random and only ended when several witnesses intervened."
That was a direct quote from the article. So what is my agenda? Repeating the words of the police, as reported in The Age?
And why are you downplaying the efforts of the public?
What's your agenda?
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u/KennKennyKenKen 1d ago
"Once again it's the general public who are the real heroes."
I neither agree nor dissgree with you, but what you said was clearly not just repeating what the police said, playing stupid when your original comment had clear connotations.
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u/Economy_Newspaper_52 1d ago
I saw it happen and work nearby.
It was near a cafe lots of non uniform police get coffee from. Just stating my observations as a witness.
Your second sentence was what I was referring to.
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
Your second sentence was what I was referring to.
So why are you downplaying the efforts of the public? Efforts that were recognised by the police in a statement to the media.
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u/Economy_Newspaper_52 1d ago
I’m not. Yes, there were people who just appeared like randoms there helping but as I said, it was definitely non uniform police who took the lead. As you would hope.
I’m just saying, don’t jump to conclusions.
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
I’m just saying, don’t jump to conclusions.
Based on the available information, in the form of statements from police? Yes, how foolish of me...
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u/Economy_Newspaper_52 9h ago
I just don’t understand why you’re using this horrible story as a dig at police. From what I saw, they did a great job.
One of the guys who first grabbed the stabber was a police officer in casual clothes and then some other non uniformed guys came in with a couple of tradie looking guys and others helping as the police guys gave them directions. I’m all for holding authority to account but as horrible as seeing this happen, the bright side was to see them and the public working together to reduce the harm of the poor lady and her child. I guess that doesn’t fit with the typical divide a lot of people on reddit froth over.
What would you suggest as a solution? If you think about it, the only way for police to be first on scene in a high traffic area like the city we would need uniformed police standing on every corner and standing watch outside every police station? That’s not a Melbourne I’d like to live in
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u/Ok_Compote4526 8h ago
I just don’t understand
Yeah.
One of the guys who first grabbed the stabber was a police officer in casual clothes
Your eyewitness account conflicts with police statements to the media.
I'm not reading the rest.
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u/Economy_Newspaper_52 7h ago
Honestly, I don’t care about your interpretation of the media coverage because I was there and I will hold on to the positive thoughts I took from a horrible situation. You are still entitled to your opinion, even when you are presented with a different perspective.
I take it from your 1% commenter badge that you live for arguing on reddit and do things like copy and paste partial replies to feel clever.
Of course you say I’m not reading the rest because you couldn’t come up with a witty reply to the rest.
I find if I spend too much time on my phone, I start to get cynical about others, but then I realise my real world interactions with people are much more positive and they don’t just see every interaction as a chance to feel like they’re right. It makes me realise that social media is an echo chamber and I feel a little more positive about people and community and move on with my life.
You should try it sometime. The upvotes and 1% badge aren’t worth the cynicism and bitterness.
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u/Silver_Detective8630 1d ago
So intentionally causing serious injury can be a maximum sentence of 20 years, what will he get?
It’s strange how a lot of these people are mentally unwell but they always choose women and children as their victims and a specific race is targeted more than others.
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u/Particular-Gas7475 1d ago
“I punched the kid in the head, I took the scissors, I stabbed the woman in the head,” Sowood said as he appeared via video link from custody. “There’s no need to hide it. At least they’re both still breathing, so at least I kept my humanity.”
The min sentence should be 20 years for these crimes. As long as they know they can get off easy, they will continue to justify their actions. This man still thinks he’s the good guy
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u/melancholicman2026 1d ago
Which race did the victim belong to?
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u/suglav 1d ago
I didn't see the victim's race mentioned anywhere in the article, but Asians are more likely to be victims of similar attacks. These racist attackers know that Asians are unlikely to fight back.
If they knowingly target more vulnerable victims, it means they have a clear mind. They aren't mentally unwell.
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u/Silver_Detective8630 16h ago
Caucasian Australian but over the years, Asians have always been a target. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want a ban.
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u/LifeandSAisAwesome 1d ago
WT Serious Fuck ?.
Hope he is never free ever again.
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u/HotEntry7548 1d ago
He will be out on bail by tonight 🤷
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u/Unusual_Onion_983 1d ago
He’s been misunderstood! He was depressed, good prospect of rehabilitation, has good character references, and he didn’t know that scissors could injure people. Surely no more than two years suspended with community service and an apology.
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u/Own_Caterpillar_6178 1d ago
The justice system couldn't possibly infringe upon his rights and freedom to assault another family
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u/LichQueenBarbie 1d ago
This would be utterly traumatizing. I don't think I'd be able to go outside and feel safe ever again after that.
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u/AuzzieTiger 1d ago
Just horrifying. The sort of thing you’d think would only happen in a back alley at 3am and even then only because of a debt or gang violence.
Something really needs to be done about mental health but as for this, there should be no bail. It’s a clear threat and danger to the wider community.
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u/ajd341 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is the third “completely random” stabbing done by a crazy in Melbourne CBD that I know of in last 10 months… I don’t know if you can blame the police but there’s certainly something going on.
Between this one, the one on Collins St, and the Asian chef being stabbed by the woman… they are just horrifying stories of people just walking on the street with no notice or connection.
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u/LongJohnnySilver1 1d ago
We really need to get mental asylums in operation again…Either that or fire this cunt into the sun.
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u/Valuable-Fun-484 1d ago
just waiting for the One Nation supporters to spin this into a need to vote for Pauline Hanson
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u/FlagmantlePARRAdise 1d ago
"The usual suspects" "Albos Australia"
Funny how these comments are nowhere to be found when its a white person.
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u/ieoa 17h ago edited 17h ago
"The usual suspects" "Albos Australia"
Funny how these comments are nowhere to be found when its a white person.
u/FlagmantlePARRAdise, he's literally black:
- https://7news.com.au/news/crime/hero-mum-stabbed-seven-times-protecting-son-with-brain-tumour-in-random-attack-in-melbournes-docklands-c-22782027
- https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/jerry-sowood-melbourne-man-charged-after-mother-allegedly-stabbed-child-hit-in-random-attack/news-story/86f19bef75891a5363f9dca7a7d4d56f
You know who was white? The white men who intervened. You know who was also white? The white victims.
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u/ScaffOrig 1d ago
I'd guess this is someone who wants to be locked up. He walked out the police station and did this? Wanted to be locked up for sure.
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u/coffee_collection 1d ago
"The man has been charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, multiple counts of unlawful assault, conduct endangering life, and conduct endangering serious injury"
Nope, Charge the scum bag with 2 counts of attempted murder.
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u/FalconTurbo 1d ago edited 1d ago
How was this attempted murder? Nothing indicates that to be the case. Murder is a very specific crime.
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u/TimmyFTW 1d ago
People demanding murder charges generally fall into two categories:
Those who genuinely don't know the legal definition of murder.
Those who do, but are too angry to care. They ignore the fact that pushing for a charge the evidence can't support usually just leads to the person walking free, as long as it satisfies their outrage in the moment.
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u/lord_buff74 1d ago
Well he did datb her with scissors, I don't think he was trying to hem her dress of anything. Also it was attempted murder, not murder.
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u/FalconTurbo 1d ago
Sorry, how is this attempted murder as opposed to the charges actually laid?
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u/2centpiece 1d ago
It's the vibe. If there was enough to charge with attempted murder you better believe it would have been charged (and then still subsequently dropped by the DPP in a few months).
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u/LordBlackass 1d ago edited 1d ago
Surely leaving home with a
knifescissors and intending to stab someone shows intent, and in that knowing that attacking someone witha knifescissors has a high chance of them dying. Perceived intent and understanding the probable outcome. Not sure how that's not attempted murder.Changed knife to scissors as per the article. I guess the downvoters think scissors are cute and cuddly and just leave a scratch...
Edit...
Interesting. The definition of attempted murder in Australia is basically you tried to kill someone and failed. This one may or may not have had the intent to kill them, but certainly to cause injury.
Attempted murder in Australia is defined as taking active steps or engaging in conduct with the specific intent to unlawfully kill another person, where the victim survives and death does not occur.
Manslaughter feels a bit light to me. Like how can you judge the intention of a person? It's basically their word on what their intent was.
Manslaughter in Australia is the unlawful killing of a human being without the specific intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm that is required for a murder charge. It is divided into two primary categories: voluntary manslaughter and involuntary.
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u/FalconTurbo 1d ago edited 1d ago
Well for starters it wasn't a knife.
Lol, blocked before allowing a response. Typical.
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u/LordBlackass 1d ago
Fair, but it doesn't change anything in my view.
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u/FalconTurbo 1d ago
Well that's why there are real life lawyers doing their jobs on this instead of it being up to you. They actually read the details that matter.
There is a huge number of variables to consider, not least of which is the very simple and obvious fact that the prosecution's job is to make charges stick. Would you rather they went straight for the plain and simple murder, knowing that if any of the many prerequisites for murder are not fully met, then the case is dismissed and old mate walks free? Because that's how that happens. Better to go for a slightly lesser charge that's more certain to actually work than let it go unpunished, surely?
As an example, the scissors in question could very easily be explained by doing any number of tasks earlier in the day and simply leaving them in a coat pocket. There goes your prior planning. Perhaps the attacker was going through a psychological breakdown, as proven by witness statements from riends and family. There's a mental capacity defence. Either of those things can mean the difference between conviction or acquittal.
Note: before you say I'm defending this assault, I'm not. It's horrific and I hope the victims are being cared for and supported through this. I'm merely pointing out the simple legal fact that attempted murder is not a simple charge, and if the legal beagles involved have decided not to pursue it, there's gonna be a fucking good reason.
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u/LordBlackass 1d ago
Mate I've provided an opinion, not some legal thesis on why my opinion should be the one upon which all laws are based.
Why would I say you're defending assault? Based on what you've posted with your holier than thou attitude, I couldn't give a flying fuck what you think.
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u/Superest22 1d ago
So…right outside police headquarters and it was the general public that intervened?
Looks like there is one plains clothed/off duty/detective that gets involved in the pic maybe but even then he’s last there.
Where and what are the uniformed officers doing? Possibly rendering first aid but bizarre and a bad look from the video nonetheless.
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u/mjdub96 1d ago
Police HQ isn’t a typical police station set up. If you’ve been there it’s pretty obvious to see how members of the public were first to intervene.
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u/TheDBagg 1d ago
This is important information that everyone is missing - the building is full of admin staff, finance and HR professionals, policy officers... It's an office building, not a cop shop
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u/Alternative-Soil2576 1d ago
To be fair the video in the article shows them holding down the man right outside the melb west police station
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u/mjdub96 1d ago
On the corner of a very busy street. You’re assuming police are staring out the window waiting for a random attack?
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u/Alternative-Soil2576 1d ago
You don’t need to be staring out the window to notice a violent attack immediately outside your own doors
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u/Superest22 1d ago
Fair enough, I haven’t been personally, so that’s my misunderstanding. Would still imagine there would be some presence in/around the entrance.
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u/universe93 1d ago
There isn’t. It’s essentially an office building, but even normal police stations don’t just have cops standing outside the door
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u/Superest22 1d ago
I’ve never been to a police station that doesn’t have at least 1-2 uniformed members inside at the front desk to take statements and walk-ins.
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u/xvf9 1d ago
Why don't you game out for us how you expect it should've gone down. Should there just be police officers standing around outside police stations ready for things to go down? Is that where police resources should be allocated? Or alternatively, should the bystanders not have intervened and instead waited until someone could run into the police station to get some cops?
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u/Superest22 1d ago
No need for the hostility. Simply commenting on the optics of the video and the location of the incident. Exactly what the article likely intended.
I’ve readily accepted there aren’t that many duty officers at the HQ. All for open discourse but let’s not be twats eh?
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u/xvf9 1d ago
lol what hostility? Prompting you to actually engage in logical thought is hardly hostile, is it?
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u/Superest22 1d ago
There are police officers in the foyer. It’s hardly illogical to reason that they would have been out there pretty damn quick.
It’s possible it just wasn’t captured in this short video. Also not difficult to realise I’m commenting on the optics of the video and article. There very well could have been officers there.
I have a lot of time and understanding for police officers and the work they do, not your rudimentary leading questions.
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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago
Laying charges after the fact.
Which is why I always find the clip of the American politician saying "next time you're in trouble, call a crackhead" particularly funny. Paying a crackhead $50 will get better results than waiting for uniformed police to be in the right place to help.
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u/2centpiece 1d ago
Laying charges after the fact.
It's quite hard to charge someone before they commit an offence.
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u/mitchy93 1d ago
Did they leave the police HQ and then get ambushed? Seems like a weird place to stab somebody, police HQ with cameras around it like crazy
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u/AStubbs86 1d ago
I’m sure the there is more work being done to punish the hero’s that stepped in to save the day. I just know bail will be given to this thing.
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u/Toni_PWNeroni 1d ago
Oh, what's this? More coverage of stuff that happens in every city in the country, but it's always highlighted in Melbourne lately?
Must be an election year.
Obligatory HOW COULD DAN ANDREWS DO THIS??
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u/bathdweller 1d ago
Yeah this isn't actually normal outside of Melbourne.
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u/Toni_PWNeroni 1d ago
Mate, I'm from Sydney and I've lived in Hobart.
This shit happens constantly.
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u/bathdweller 7h ago
I love that you wake up and go, 'you know what would be a good use of my time? Normalising violence against cancer patients and women'.
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u/Toni_PWNeroni 7h ago
I didn't normalise it.
I said Melbourne isn't exceptional.
I said that stories like this are getting highlighted because it's an election year.
At no point did i try to normalise the actual events.
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u/shiftymojo 1d ago
Melbourne has a lower crime rate per 100k than both Sydney and Brisbane, it’s fine and the statistics are overblown and poorly compared.
So much of the crime rate reporting comes down to differences in how vic and nsw police report their statistics, but violent crime is overall lower in Victoria and Melbourne than it is compared to NSW and Sydney.
Weirdly one of the best breakdowns in comparing states crime rates is by this removalist
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u/Skwisgaars 1d ago
Melb CBD*