Experts to assess Sydney stabbing accused Mert Ney’s mental health
A court has pushed back the prosecution of alleged Sydney CBD stabber Mert Ney so reports can be gathered about his mental health and capacity.
NSW
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A court will examine the “fitness” and mental health of a man accused of a murderous stabbing spree in Sydney that came to a dramatic end on a city street.
Mert Ney is accused of killing 24-year-old Michaela Dunn in a CBD unit and then stabbing another woman before being pinned down in the street by members of the public in August last year.
News cameras captured the then-21-year-old running through the city allegedly with a knife and his dramatic apprehension with a milk crate.
Ney did not appear before Central Local Court on Tuesday after Magistrate Robert Williams explained Parklea Correctional Facility, which is housing the accused man, wasn’t responding to calls.
Police prosecutors explained Ney’s defence team were asking for the case to be adjourned for two months so reports could be collected about his mental health.
The prosecutor said Ney’s “fitness” needed to be assessed.
The court did not hear further details but fitness, in NSW courts, usually means the defendant’s ability to fairly take place in a trial.
Magistrate Williams granted the request and the reports are expected to be collected before the next date, June 2.
Earlier this year the court heard the brief of evidence - which will form the police court case against Ney - is now 21 volumes in size and more than 7000 pages in length.
A court previously heard Ney allegedly organised for a “girlfriend experience” with Ms Dunn and arrived at her apartment at 1:44pm on August 13.
By 1.57pm, police allege, he had killed her and left.
A court previously heard Ney allegedly snapped a selfie, put on a beanie and rushed into the street before stabbing 41-year-old Lin Bo in the back outside Hotel CBD.
She survived.