Flinders St incident: mum says son Saeed Noori ruined by drugs

THE mother of accused Flinders St attacker Saeed Noori says her son was “all the time drug”, as a court heard he had “intent to kill”.

Shakiba Jalaly, the mother of Saeed Noor, leaving Melbourne Magistrates Court.

THE mother of accused Flinders St attacker Saeed Noori says he was a “beautiful son” until drugs took hold of his life.

Shakiba Jalaly, who revealed that Mr Noori has a two-year-old son and his wife is pregnant with their second child, said her son had fallen through the cracks.

“Beautiful son, drug no good. Three years sick, very sick. All the time he’s sick,” she said.

“Very, very beautiful son. Beautiful son, drug no good, all the time drug.”

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The homicide squad yesterday charged Mr Noori, 32, with 18 counts of attempted murder and one of conduct endangering life over the attack at Flinders St.

Shakiba Jalaly, the mother of Saeed Noor, leaving Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Shakiba Jalaly: “Beautiful son, drug no good”

Detectives allege Mr Noori, 32, deliberately mowed down pedestrians at the junction of Flinders and Elizabeth streets at 4.41pm on Thursday.

Sen-Constable Amitoj Singh described Mr Noori’s action as “with the intention of killing or causing injury to as many people as possible”.

Police prosecutors said the motive for the alleged attack remained under investigation and further charges could be laid.

An artist’s impression of Saeed Noori in the dock. Illustration: Bettina Guthridge

Ms Jalaly burst into tears when Mr Noori appeared in the dock, and rocked back and forth in her seat.

Her scruffily bearded son, dressed in a grey T-shirt and black pants, put his face in his hands as she wept. She was asked by magistrate Bob Kumar to turn off her phone after she took photos of Mr Noori in the dock.

Court staff helped her back to her seat after she tried to approach him.

Ms Jalaly provided a picture of her son outside the court hearing.

Mr Noori was one of seven children, she said. The family moved to Australia from Afghanistan in 2004 after being driven out by the Taliban. Ms Jalaly said that following an incident in March 2009, when relatives were killed in Afghanistan, Mr Noori had changed.

“Nine people dead. Speed all the difference, all the drug,” she said.

Shakiba Jalaly outside court.

Before her son appeared in courtroom one at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Ms Jalaly appeared distraught as she sat alone on the burgundy leather seats outside the court.

She arrived shortly after 9am, hoping for a glimpse of her son.

Ms Jalaly asked lawyers where her son would be coming through to the courtroom. They explained that he would be taken through a back entrance and straight into the court.

About two hours later, a police officer appeared to show her inside courtroom one, where her son would be sitting.

A female police officer gave her a drink of water in a white cup. But other than those interactions, she sat clasping her hands and muttering what appeared to be prayers. Or she was on the phone to family members as they tried to comprehend Mr Noori’s alleged actions.

Accused Flinders Street rampage driver Saeed Noori. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ms Jalaly said she had checked out of hospital before attending court. The white hospital name tag was still on her left wrist. “Two nights in the hospital,” she said.

She said the family had spent eight years in Iran before coming to Australia.

“Iran big problem, no working,” she said. “In 2004, come here. Iran, very bad. No children in school, no working, very bad.”

She said that her extended family had been split up when they left Afghanistan.

“One brother go to Germany, and brother and sister Canada, one brother go to London. Husband go to Australia, citizen.”

Mr Noori did not apply for bail but Mr Kumar said bail would have been opposed because of the “serious nature” of the accusations.

Mr Noori was silent during the court appearance and appeared sleepy, rubbing his eyes and staring down for much of the hearing.

Mr Kumar ordered that the accused be assessed by a psychiatrist before he reappears on Wednesday.