Hamish Taylor, charged with two counts of attempted murder after attacking a police officer with a sword

The man accused of trying to murder police officers with a sword has fronted court, handcuffed to a wall.

The man accused of attempting to murder two on duty police officers with a sword has faced court for the first time – via video link while handcuffed to a wall.

On Monday afternoon, Hamish Taylor faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court via audio visual link from the Port Augusta police cells.

Dressed in a white police-issued jumpsuit with waist-length wavy brown hair, Mr Taylor spoke only once during the brief hearing to confirm he could see and hear the courtroom.

He made no application for bail, and was remanded in custody until April.

The 30-year-old from Port Augusta has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after he allegedly used a sword to strike a female police officer at the scene of a domestic disturbance in Port Augusta over the weekend.

On Monday afternoon, 30-year-old Hamish Taylor faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court via audio visual link from the Port Augusta police cells. Picture: ABC

Speaking to FIVEAA radio on Monday morning, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the injured officer had since undergone successful but “significant surgery” and was recovering in good spirits.

“We’re very thankful it wasn’t a life threatening injury, but we’re talking about a situation where a more tragic outcome was certainly possible,” he said.

“There are a lot of police officers and members of police families out there thinking that this is just something that should not be happening. We’re expecting that this person will be held to account for their actions.

“We would be expecting a penalty that provides a level of assurance police officers are looking for that they are protected by the courts, and that perpetrators understand that if you make a decision to assault a police officer or prescribed emergency services worker, you are going to face consequences.”

Prosecutors allege that two police officers attending reports of a domestic disturbance on High St at 10.40am were confronted by Mr Taylor.

Mr Taylor, they allege, was armed with a sword which he used to strike the female officer in the arm before being subdued by capsicum spray.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the officer was recovering after surgery. Picture: RoyVPhotography.

Originally charged with assaulting emergency services workers, the charges against him were upgraded to two counts of attempted murder.

Mr Stevens later commented that “every police officer will be watching to see what penalty is applied if there is a finding of guilt” in the case.

The incident comes on the heels of renewed debate surrounding penalties for assaulting police in the wake of Raina Jane Cruise’s suspended sentence – after she was convicted of causing harm with intent to cause harm.

“The reality is that police officers are voluntarily stepping into difficult, dangerous situations to protect other members of the public and they need to know they are supported by the judiciary who hold people to account,” Mr Stevens said on Monday.

The Department of Public Prosecutions has appealed Cruise’s sentence.

Originally published as Hamish Taylor, charged with two counts of attempted murder after attacking a police officer with a sword