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Alleged fry pan-wielding uni stabber pleads not guilty

By AAP Newswire

Mar 14, 2024

ANU crime scene — Two women were stabbed at ANU in September and other students were bashed with a frying pan. -AAP Image

The man accused of stabbing two students at a university and injuring others with a frying pan has pleaded not guilty by virtue of mental impairment.

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Alex Ophel has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of common assault and one count of possessing an object with the intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.

His lawyer entered the plea in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Ophel remains in custody, with the case to return to court on May 23.

He is accused of repeatedly stabbing two women and bashing other students over the head with a frying pan at the Australian National University in September 2023.

Two 20-year-old women were taken to hospital and a third man was treated at the scene following the incident.

The mother of Ilysha Perry, a 20-year-old arts student allegedly stabbed by Ophel, has expressed her feelings of horror when she heard about what happened.

Fiona Coffey said she was grateful her daughter was still alive but her daughter would have serious long-term issues and would not be the same.

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By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press