Teen accused of stabbing police officer claims he was mentally impaired during attack

An 18-year-old who allegedly lured police to his home to attack them has claimed he was mentally impaired when he allegedly stabbed an officer in the leg.

A man accused of luring police to his home so he could launch a vicious attack on them claims he did not know what he was doing because of mental illness.

Moses Thurairajasingam, 18, allegedly stabbed an on-duty cop as he arrived at his Cranbourne West home following a false report he had been the victim of an aggravated burglary on September 3.

The officer’s body-worn camera captured the moment Mr Thurairajasingam lunged at him with a 13cm kitchen knife, stabbing him in the thigh.

“Hi mate, did you call police?” the officer asked him as he stepped outside of the police car and saw the teen approaching.

“Pardon?” Mr Thurairajasingam could be heard saying as he walked closer to the officer holding the weapon behind his back.

When the teenager was asked again if he had called the police, he replied “yeah” before allegedly thrusting the knife into the officer’s leg.

Moses Thurairajasingam, 18, allegedly stabbed a police officer responding to a fake burglary call in Cranbourne on August 3. Picture: Melbourne Magistrates' Court

“I’ve been stabbed,” the officer yelled as he retreated.

The injured officer required surgery in hospital.

The teen, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via video link from Dandenong Hospital.

His lawyer told the court he would be using the defence of mental impairment.

Mr Thurairajasingam entered a plea of not guilty and was directed to stand trial in the County Court.

His legal team will have to provide strong medical evidence to convince a jury or judge that he was mentally impaired at the time of the alleged offending.

An earlier court heard that he had allegedly planned the attack to be suicide by cop, telling arresting officers three times to shoot him so he could “go to heaven”.

He had allegedly asked his sister earlier in the day if he “stabbed someone, would the police shoot me?”.

Police allege he then made the false burglary assault report to triple-0.

Mr Thurairajasingam was charged with seven offences, including assaulting an emergency worker, intentionally causing serious injury and common law assault.

In September, magistrate Stephen Ballek refused him bail, describing his actions as “calculated and planned”.

The following month, Supreme Court judge Jane Dixon released him on bail on the strict condition he be taken immediately to hospital via ambulance for treatment.

He will next appear in the County Court on February 20.