Cop stabber ‘consumed by fear and bizarre psychotic experiences’ believed officer was ‘demon’

A man stabbed a police officer in the neck with scissors, believing the cop was a ‘demon’ or a ‘vampire’, a court has been told.

A Queensland man stabbed a cop in the neck under the delusional belief the officer was a “demon or a vampire”, a court has been told.

Gripped by drug-induced psychotic experiences, Richard Zoltan Babos said he feared for his life when he seriously struck the officer in the neck, leaving him bleeding on the pavement of a Brisbane shopping centre.

The officer could have bled to death if not for surgery, crown prosecutor Judy Geary said.

Richard Zoltan Babos seriously stabbed a police officer in the neck at a Brisbane shopping centre.

Babos was due to stand trial but earlier this week pleaded guilty to charges including grievous bodily harm, stealing, trespass and obstruct police.

Brisbane District Court was told Babos, 31, was approached by police at the Inala Civic Centre in May 2019.

Ms Geary said Babos was wanted over the theft of items from supermarkets when the officer attempted to arrest him.

During the scuffle Babos overpowered the man and struck him in the neck with a pair of scissors.

“It’s a 2.5cm laceration to the jugular vein, less than 7cm into the neck,” Ms Geary said.

“He had surgery … (without it) he could have bled to death at the scene.”

The court was told Babos believed the officer was a “vampire or a demon” and he acted out of fear for his life.

“He was consumed by fear and bizarre psychotic experiences,” Babos’ defence barrister said.

Babos (face obscured) had to be tasered by police after fleeing the scene of the stabbing and breaking into a nearby home armed with a shovel.

A shirtless Babos was arrested at a nearby residence after breaking into the home armed with a stolen shovel while demanding keys.

There, he issued a chilling warning to the homeowners that he was “going to be killed by police.”

The court was told Babos had been abusing drugs throughout the offending period that fuelled his psychotic symptoms, but he otherwise had prospects of rehabilitation.

The court was told Babos acted out of fear the police officer was a vampire or a demon, having abused illicit drugs on the day.

Babos’ defence barrister said her client was seeking assistance for his drug abuse and mental health issues while behind bars.

“He continued to experience psychotic symptoms for several months and was treated until January 2020,” she said.

The court was told Babos was remorseful and understood the harm and suffering he had brought to the officer and his family.

He will be sentenced later on Thursday.

Originally published as Cop stabber ‘consumed by fear and bizarre psychotic experiences’ believed officer was ‘demon’