Mert Ney: Michaela Dunn killer to be sentenced for unrelated prison attack

The man behind the terrifying 2019 Sydney CBD stabbings, which saw a young woman murdered and another woman stabbed in the back, is set to be sentenced over a new act of violence.

The man who embarked on a terrifying stabbing rampage in Sydney’s CBD after killing 24-year-old Michaela Dunn is set to be sentenced for a different attack.

Convicted murderer Mert Ney, 23, is currently serving a 44-year jail sentence for killing Ms Dunn in an unprovoked attack after he booked a sex work appointment with her. Ney then embarked on a violent frenzy in the heart of Sydney, wielding a knife and stabbing another woman in the back.

The 23-year-old murderer has since pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, relating to an incident of violence while in prison.

On Friday Ney’s matter was mentioned briefly in Penrith District Court for his sentence hearing date to be vacated.

Ney did not appear but was represented by his lawyer, Zemerai Khatiz, who told the court more time was needed for the defence to compile a psychiatric report.

Convicted murderer Mert Ney now faces a fresh charge of alleged assault. Picture: Joel Carrett.

In 2021, as Justice Peter Johnson jailed Ney for 44 years a woman in the courtroom shouted “monster” when he was led away.

More years were soon added to Ney’s sentence when he pleaded guilty to assaulting an officer at Goulburn Correctional Centre in October 2021.

Ney (left) pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing Michaela Dunn in 2019.

Ney was arrested by police in Sydney’s CBD on 13 August 2019. Picture: David Vaux.

According to police facts, after there were reports of a minor fire in Ney’s cell he was escorted to the high risk management unit clinic so he could be assessed for smoke inhalation.

Here, while handcuffed, Ney lunged for one of the officers and was abusive towards clinic staff.

After he was placed on the bed, he turned his head towards a corrective services officer and spat directly into his face, a court heard.

He was sentenced by Magistrate Geraldine Beattie in June to additional jail time for assaulting the officer, adding 15 months to his 44 year sentence, with a 33 years non-parole period. He is currently eligible for release on February 12, 2053 — at which time, he will be aged 56.

Today, Judge Karen Robinson ordered for Ney’s psychiatric report to be ready by late November and relisted the matter for sentencing on December 7.