Gatton vet student Bonnie Wetherall’s scalpel attack on handsy drinking buddy

A Gatton veterinary science student used a scalpel to “punish” a man for making sexual advances on her, in what a judge has labelled a “bizarre” and “vindictive” attack.

Bonnie Wetherall leaving Ipswich Courthouse on May 24, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

A university student’s “cold” response to a man’s sexual advances landed him in hospital, in a “bizarre” turn of events which a judge has compared to an “arthouse movie”.

Bonnie Wetherall, 25, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on May 24, 2023, to unlawfully wounding another person, and possessing a knife in a public place.

The court heard Wetherall was a fourth year veterinary student and had known the victim, aged 35, for a few weeks prior to the offending.

Crown prosecutor Rachel Stewart said Wetherall ran into the victim while she was out drinking in Gatton on May 18, 2022, and he invited her back to his hotel room for a drink.

Wetherall agreed and they had several more drinks together, before Wetherall got up to change a song.

Ms Stewart said the victim walked up behind Wetherall and “tapped” her on the bottom.

“She asked him not to do that again, he apologised, and they both sat back down,” Ms Stewart said.

The court heard Wetherall then asked the man to put his arm out, and he did.

Ms Stewart said Wetherall then took a scalpel out of her purse and cut into his arm.

The court heard the man asked “are you happy with what you’ve done”, and Wetherall replied “yeah don’t worry, you won’t bleed out”.

The victim went to hospital soon after and required 10 stitches to his arm.

The court heard Wetheral was so intoxicated at the time that she couldn’t remember the entire evening, and now couldn’t explain why she did it.

Judge Eversen commented that “it’s a bit like something out of an arthouse movie to be frank. It’s very bizarre”.

“I’ve got no explanation for why she’s wandering around late at night with a scalpel in her handbag, and to then take the scalpel out, unsheathe it and slice – it’s not as if she thought it was a nail file.”

Bonnie Wetherall leaving Ipswich Courthouse on May 24, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Judge Eversen continued, “the sexual overtures such as it was, in the context of the evening, doesn’t appear to be out of place.

“She obviously took offence, but he apologised … It wasn’t like he’d done something that was grossly inappropriate in the context of the evening.

“He’s said he’s sorry, and then she’s punished him with a scalpel.”

The court heard Wetherall had “immediately apologised” after she learned how serious it was, and that her “jaw dropped” when she saw photos of the wound.

Judge Eversen said none of the actual evidence before him offered an explanation as to why Wetherall’s response was so “cold” and “calculated”.

“It is submitted that you were heavily intoxicated at the time, and I accept that it’s unlikely that you would have done such a thing if you were sober.”

Judge Eversen said it was important to consider personal and community deterrence for such behaviour – saying such offences would normally result in a prison sentence.

However, he noted Wetherall had no criminal history and a “bright future” ahead of her.

“After careful reflection, I’m prepared to accept – despite the lack of any satisfactory explanation – that this offending merely represents a tragic aberration in an otherwise commendable course.”

Wetherall was sentenced to two years probation, and no convictions were recorded.

Judge Eversen left her with a parting warning, saying: “You’re extremely fortunate that you’re not going to jail.

“I haven’t got the whole picture here today, but I’ve decided that it’s in everyone’s interest if you can just move on from this.

“Whatever it is that’s lurking there that made you do this, you need to address. You really do.”