Petrie Plaza: John Gray charged over alleged knifepoint child snatching
A 26-year-old man has fronted court after he allegedly kidnapped a five-year-old child at knifepoint at a popular Canberra shopping centre.
Canberra Star
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An alleged knife-wielding child snatcher has faced court over a claim he tried to run off with a 5-year-old boy.
John Michael Gray, 26, appeared briefly in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, where Magistrate James Lawton ordered he be sent to Canberra Hospital to be assessed for emergency mental healthcare treatment.
In a brief mention of the case, Gray was formally charged with possessing a black folding knife without a reasonable excuse.
He was also formally charged with forcibly taking away a five-year-old child.
He has not entered pleas.
Police were called to Petrie Plaza in Canberra’s CBD on Saturday, after a triple-0 call reporting a child being snatched.
Police allege Gray grabbed the child, a stranger, and ran towards a laneway.
A parent, and members of the public, chased Gray, pinned him to the ground and performed a citizens arrest.
No further details were aired in court on Monday.
Gray is expected to return to court in coming days, after his emergency mental health assessment, although no future court date has been set.
