Brisbane mum throws knife at 10yo son, tells court he was ‘being silly’

A 10-year-old boy has told police how he avoided being stabbed by his own mother when she hurled a knife at him in a fit of anger.

A Brisbane mum who threw a knife in the direction of her 10-year-old son has told a court he was “being silly” and not co-operating.

The Mansfield woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her victim, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, September 21 and pleaded guilty to one count of common assault – domestic violence offence.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told the court the woman’s victim was her 10-year-old son and the offence took place at their home about 10.40am on June 20 this year.

On the day in question, he said the mum “chased” the victim child outside following an argument and threw a red kitchen knife in his direction, causing him to jump in fright.

A witness who was driving past at the time recalled seeing a knife “flying through the air”. They pulled over and, along with another witness, called the police, photographed the knife, and tried to speak with the woman.

Police attended the scene and spoke with the 10-year-old to ascertain what happened. The child told them his mother was angry at him because he had not collected “smokes” for her as she had asked him to.

The child said she threw two “poles” at him before she threw the knife. He recalled jumping and falling into dirt and said he believed he would have been “stabbed” if he had not reacted so.

Mr Coburn said the woman, who is currently unemployed, initially denied throwing a knife at her son and said the witnesses were lying because she “had a go” at them.

The woman’s defence solicitor asked Magistrate Julian Noud to consider his client’s plea was timely.

He told the court of her circumstances at the time of offending, explaining she was staying with three of her children – including the victim – at a residence they had recently been told they needed to leave.

He said the child was “being silly” and “climbing on the fence”, telling his mum he did not want to come to her as she was trying to tidy up and leave the property.

He explained her throwing the knife at him was “circumstantial” and “impulsive” and an act she deeply regretted, though he argued it was by intent and not by accident the child was not harmed.

Mr Noud told the woman her actions were “recklessly dangerous” and sentenced her to 12 months’ probation. A conviction was recorded.