Alex Ophel to face ACT Supreme Court trial over alleged murder attempts at Australian National University

A man accused of trying to kill two university students in a stabbing attack is set to argue he was mentally impaired. Here’s the latest from court.

Alex Ophel, who has been committed to the ACT Supreme Court for trial.

A man accused of trying to kill two university students in a Canberra stabbing attack is set to defend attempted murder charges on mental impairment grounds.

Alex Leonard Ophel was on Wednesday committed to the ACT Supreme Court to stand trial on two counts of attempted murder and a charge of possessing an object with intent to kill.

The 25-year-old faced the ACT Magistrates Court via audiovisual link from custody as two charges of common assault were also transferred to the superior court as related matters.

Ophel, who had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges by reason of mental impairment, exhaled loudly throughout his brief appearance.

“Sorry, I can’t hear you,” he said at one point, while defence lawyer Tim Sharman was addressing the court.

Police at the Australian National University after the alleged stabbing attack. Picture: Sam Turner

Ophel has been remanded in custody since his alleged offending in September 2023, when police allege he attacked four students at the Australian National University in Canberra.

He allegedly began by using a frying pan to hit a male student, who ran away, on the head about 2.40pm on a Monday afternoon.

“(Ophel) then allegedly stabbed a 20-year-old female student multiple times before chasing a second 20-year-old female student and stabbing her,” ACT Policing alleged at the time.

Police allege Ophel, a former student at the university, then approached a second male student and punched him in the face.

The 25-year-old’s case is set to go before the Supreme Court registrar for an initial administrative hearing later this month.