Alleged Moonee Ponds Reject Shop stabber Kendra Alice Thompson denied bail at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court
A Kensington woman accused of stabbing a retired university professor with a meat cleaver before allegedly unleashing it on an Uber delivery driver has been denied bail.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Kensington woman accused of stabbing a retired university professor with a meat cleaver before allegedly unleashing it on an Uber delivery driver has been denied bail.
Kendra Alice Thompson, 46, appeared via a prison link at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for her bail application.
In October, Ms Thompson allegedly followed a 76-year-old retired engineering professor into the Moonee Ponds Reject Shop on Puckle St.
She is accused of trailing the man through the store for several minutes before pulling a meat cleaver from her waistband and allegedly slashing the 76-year-old man multiple times in the throat, head, and face “inflicting large, deep, severe lacerations”.
The court heard police were “astounded” the elderly man “did not die” from the wounds.
After fleeing the Reject Shop on foot, Ms Thompson allegedly made her way to Racecourse Rd in Flemington, where she approached a 25-year-old Uber delivery rider from behind.
She allegedly stabbed the man’s left hand, causing severe cuts to his fingers as he held his bike handlebars.
The court was told neither of the men knew Ms Thompson.
Police further alleged after the attacks, Ms Thompson knocked on a neighbour’s door and threatened to “cut her unborn child out of her stomach”.
Ms Thompson was arrested, with police alleging she was “severely drug affected,” “very agitated,” and “laughed” when shown photos of the retired professor’s wounds.
Ms Thompson’s lawyer, Chris Hooper, told the court she was an Aboriginal woman with a history of trauma, abuse and a mental health illness.
Mr Hooper said his client was a “vulnerable adult” and had seen a psychiatric nurse and psychologist since she had been in custody.
“There’s been a significant stabilisation in her condition from a mental health perspective and her abstinence from drugs,” he said.
Magistrate Rohan Lawrence said he was concerned Ms Thompson had attacked two strangers with a weapon that could have led to the death of the 76-year-old man.
Mr Lawrence accepted that Ms Thompson’s condition had improved in custody but was “concerned about the risk she might pose”.
He said it was “too much of a risk” for Ms Thompson to be allowed back to the community where she could return to drug use and her mental health could decline.
“The court and community would not tolerate any risk of violent attacks upon strangers,” Mr Lawrence said.
Ms Thompson’s bail application was denied and she was remanded in custody.
Desperate moves Victorians making to escape mortgage jail
Victorians trapped in ‘mortgage prisons’ are putting their homes up as holiday rentals, leasing out spare rooms and ending maternity leave early in desperate bids to pay their mortgage.
Dodgy chiro charged $60k in appointments he worked while suspended
A dodgy church-loving chiropractor, who was suspended after it was discovered he was in a relationship with a patient, continued to practise despite being unregistered.