Partners of women stabbed at Adelaide Plympton real estate agency call for end to violence against females
The partners of two women attacked at work – allegedly by a total stranger – have made an impassioned plea on the courthouse steps as the accused killer laughs in court.
Police & Courts
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A man who allegedly attacked two women he did not know, killing one and leaving the other in critical condition, has smiled and laughed during a court hearing on his mental competence.
On Monday, the Supreme Court heard an outstanding toxicology report could prove key to whether Shaun Michaels Dunk stands trial for the murder of Julie Seed and attempted murder of Susan Scardigno.
The women’s families, meanwhile, have called on Australian men to “stand by the ladies in our lives” and end the ongoing violence against women.
Wearing white ribbons, Ms Seed’s fiance, Chris Smith, and Ms Scardigno’s partner, Sean Sykes, said such actions should never have been, and could not be, tolerated.
“(With) the violence against women at the moment, (we) believe the country and the state should be doing something to make sure we’re standing by the ladies in our lives,” Mr Smith said.
“It’s happening all across Australia at the moment, and the attacks with knives at the moment, it’s unacceptable and something needs to be done.”
Mr Sykes people to use the #EnoughIsEnough and #HonourNotHarm hashtags, which implore society to reform its attitude around violence and women.
“It’s really important to Sue, and to Julie … all men, particularly, and women can really get behind the cause … it would really mean the world to all of us,” he said.
“Men have got to be part of the conversation and lead from the front and be a voice around these things.”
Mr Dunk, 30, has yet to plead to one count of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Previously, prosecutors have alleged he killed Ms Seed, 38, of Morphett Vale, and injured Ms Scardigno, 50, inside REAL Estate Agents Group at Plympton on December 20.
SA Health subsequently confirmed Mr Dunk had been held on an inpatient treatment order prior to the incident, and was released from its care on December 18.
Following his first court appearance on December 21, Mr Dunk was remanded on a Section 269X order – meaning he was held in a secure mental health facility, not a prison cell.
Since leaving hospital, Ms Scardigno has made a number of social media posts about “how triggering” other acts of violence, around the country, have been for her.
She wrote the Bondi Junction attack was extremely distressing given “my daughter and her friend had just left the same shopping centre when this occurred”.
“I sent them for a day while I continue to recover in Sydney, and to somewhere not unlike my own workplace, where I thought they would be safe,” she wrote.
“When is enough, ENOUGH? These cowardly acts of violence more often against women, are becoming increasingly frequent and we’re not doing enough to prevent them.
“We need everyone, particularly men, to demonstrably show all our support for the fundamental value that we Honour not Harm Women and Girls.
“Given the unacceptable rate of violence against women, we need to create a movement fast and this is how together we can all begin this journey.”
In court on Monday, prosecutor Tracey Nelson said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had “filed an ex officio information” regarding Mr Dunk.
That means his case has been transferred immediately to the Supreme Court, leapfrogging the usual pre-trial process that takes place in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.
Trish Johnson, for Mr Dunk, said her client had since been transferred from the forensic mental health facility James Nash House to the Adelaide Remand Centre.
Mr Dunk had, she said, been seen only by the treating psychiatrist who “visits people and sees people in the Remand Centre on an as-needs basis”.
She said that, while Mr Dunk had been scheduled to enter his pleas to the charges on Monday, that hearing should be postponed.
“There are issues of fitness to stand trial and competence to have committed the offence that are currently being examined,” she said.
“A valid opinion on those matters cannot be provided without toxicology evidence, which we do not have yet.”
Ms Johnson said that report would be ready within six weeks – as she spoke, Mr Dunk repeatedly laughed and smiled, and also spoke inaudibly.
Auxiliary Justice Kevin Nicholson remanded Mr Dunk in custody to face court again in June.
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