Alleged stabber ‘very unwell’: Christopher Raftopoulos to remain in psychiatric custody over alleged CBD stabbings and other charges

A Melton man accused of stabbing five strangers across Melbourne has been deemed “not fit for court” after a wild rant about rockets and the solar system.

A man accused of a wild stabbing spree where five people were attacked has been deemed “unfit for court” as he ranted about the solar system and NASA.

Christopher Raftopoulos, 31, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 12, appearing via video link from the Thomas Embling Hospital.

The Melton man is accused of stabbing five strangers on January 6 over a three-hour period in Melbourne’s CBD and St Kilda.

Mr Raftopoulos is also facing other charges from 2020, 2021 and 2022, which included unlawful assault, intentionally damaging property, driving while suspended and intentionally causing injury.

Accused serial stabber Christopher Raftopoulos previously worked as a plumber. Picture: Supplied

However, Mr Raftopoulos’ lawyer Michael Amad requested a further adjournment, as his client had been deemed “unfit for court”.

“He’s very unwell, your honour,” Mr Amad told the court.

From the video link, Mr Raftopoulos told the court he was “trying to save every planet in the solar system”, and claimed he had “taken down NASA’s rocket ships”.

Mr Raftopoulos first fronted court over the stabbings in January, where police alleged he had been carrying a “bag of weapons”.

The alleged slashing spree began in Southbank at 9.20pm, where a 28-year-old Glen Waverley man walking along City Rd was knifed in the leg and torso.

Horrifying CCTV footage captured the moment where a second man was stabbed outside a King St burger restaurant, showing the alleged attacker run up behind the man and stab him in the leg.

Mr Raftopoulos will remain on remand until his next court date in March.

At 11pm, a man and a woman on Dandenong Rd in St Kilda East were targeted, where the 31-year-old woman was slashed multiple times and rushed to hospital in critical condition.

The 31-year-old Glen Waverley man was also taken to hospital with an arm injury.

At 12.30am, a 31-year-old English tourist was stabbed in the leg on Acland St in St Kilda.

In January, the court placed Mr Raftopoulos into psychiatric care to be assessed for a possible “catatonic, schizophrenic episode”.

Magistrate Pauline Spencer adjourned the matters prior to the alleged stabbing incidents to March 13 in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

He will also face court again on April 15 on the alleged stabbings.

Mr Raftopoulos will remain in custody on all matters.