Bellevue Hill stabbing: Alleged victim was facing QLD court on drug charges

Former Scots College student Hugo Ball - who was allegedly stabbed by his mother at their home - was to face court on drugs charges this week.

Police are investigating a claim that the former Scots College student allegedly stabbed by his mum in exclusive Bellevue Hill said he had “committed a murder” before the attack, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Hugo Ball, 22, who suffered several stab wounds including a potentially fatal injury into the base of his skull, was discharged from St Vincent’s Hospital yesterday.

His mum, Samantha Palmer, 55, who has been charged with wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, is expected to apply to be freed on bail on Wednesday in Central Local Court.

In another court, police will seek an apprehended domestic violence order to stop her approaching or contacting her son.

Hugo Ball. Picture: Facebook

Hugo Ball. Picture: Facebook

The former Bond University student was due to appear at Southport Magistrates Court in Queensland on Wednesday on two charges of possessing dangerous drugs and one count of “serious assault resist obstruct public officer”.

Hugo’s social media posts show him growing up from a keen rugby player and swimmer to partying with mates at music festivals and a fascination with spear fishing, sharks and big wave surfing to a passion for boxing and mixed martial arts. He is a huge fan of tough MMA fighter Conor McGregor.

Other posts reveal holidays in Bali and Vanuatu and a trip to Papua New Guinea where he poses with local children. At one stage he was seeking labouring work and offering a speargun for sale.

The tragic series of events that has split the well-connected eastern suburbs family allegedly began after he spiralled into the grip of an addiction to ice, heroin and valium which saw him twice scheduled at Robina Hospital on the Gold Coast, the court was told on Sunday.

Palmer and her husband, James Tilley, 62, who is Hugo’s step-father, had been granted an exemption from quarantine at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in June to bring him home.

Emergency servies at the Bellevue scene. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Samantha Palmer, 55, was arrested on Sunday charged with stabbing her son Hugo Ball, 22. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

He had missed his 11pm curfew on Saturday and Palmer was waiting up for him in their Drumalbyn Road mansion by the time he got home at about 1.40am, Palmer’s lawyer Darren Emmery told Parramatta Bail Court .

“My client is alarmed. She asked him “What’s wrong, what’s the problem? He tells her that he has committed a murder,” he told the court.

Police yesterday said they were “aware of the claim made in court and are checking it out”.

His mother and father split in an acrimonious divorce 10 years ago, the court was told.

Mr Tilley and Hugo’s sister, Daphne Ball, 20, had been woken by screams and Hugo told them: “She stabbed me”, it was alleged.

Palmer was denied police bail and remains remanded in custody on the grounds that she remains an unacceptable risk to her son and to the community.