Bellevue Hill stabbing: Mother in court after stabbing son in mansion

A woman who allegedly stabbed her son after he arrived home acting erratically claims she did so after he confessed to a murder, a court has heard.

A son was allegedly stabbed by his mother after arriving back at their multi-million dollar Bellevue Hill home incoherent and telling her he had murdered someone, a court was told on Sunday.

Samantha Palmer, 55, had been drinking before her son Hugo Ball, 22, arrived home about 1.40am on Saturday, blowing his 11pm curfew, Parramatta Bail Court.

Hugo, who was stabbed a number times including in the base of his skull, has a history of drug problems with ice, heroin and valium, Ms Palmer’s lawyer Darren Emmery told the court.

22 year old Bellevue Hill Hugo Ball (left), who was allegedly stabbed by his mother in their Bellevue Hill home. Picture: Supplied

Ms Palmer appeared in court via AVL from Surry Hills police cells, her hair scraped back into a tight ponytail wearing prison greens as she faced a charge of wounding her son with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, domestic violence.

She was in the lounge room when he arrived home.

“He’s come home and is acting erratically and he is walking around incoherently,” Mr Emmery told the 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 said Palmer had been threatened and there was a history of family violence.

Samantha Palmer at the scene. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Hugo being taken to hospital. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

In June, Palmer and her husband James Tilley, Hugo’s step-father, had been granted special permission to go to the Gold Coast without going into quarantine and bring Hugo home after he was twice scheduled at Robina Hospital, Mr Emmery said.

Hugo had been studying at Bond University.

He applied for bail on her behalf but withdrew the application after magistrate Paul Lyon said he would need evidence of the veracity of the claims.

The prosecution opposed bail on the basis of the safety of the community and the safety of Hugo.

Hugo is now in a stable condition in hospital. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Mr Emmery said Palmer had no previous convictions.

“This is a most unusual case,” he told the court.

“You don’t have an accused person like this all of a sudden commit a crime like this...a mother in her 50s with no criminal history.”

He said there had been an acrimonious divorce about 10 years ago between Palmer and her previous husband, the biological father of Hugo and his sister, Daphne, 20.

Hugo remains at St Vincent’s Hospital where his condition is said to be stable following surgery.

Outside court Mr Emmery said his client was “holding up well”.