Disgruntled Centrelink customer Elijah Chase who stabbed Airport West worker to stand trial

A lawyer representing a 35-year-old accused of stabbing an Airport West Centrelink worker in the back in May 2023 has flagged how he may defend the charges at trial.

The Centrelink office in Airport West where Joeanne Cassar was allegedly stabbed in the back. Picture: Nine News

A disgruntled Centrelink customer who allegedly stabbed a worker will stand trial, with his lawyer flagging he may defend the charges on mental health grounds.

Services Australia employee Joeanne Cassar was left fighting for life when she was allegedly ambushed by Elijah Chase, 35, after asking him to wait outside a Centrelink service centre in Airport West in May last year.

Magistrate Abigail Burchill on Tuesday ordered Mr Chase to stand trial in the County Court after he pleaded not guilty to charges including intentionally causing serious injury, reckless conduct endangering life and use of a controlled weapon.

“I’m not guilty,” Mr Chase said when asked for his plea.

Joeanne Cassar was injured after allegedly being stabbed several times at her workplace in Airport West. Picture: David Crosling

His lawyer Honorah Edwards flagged a mental impairment defence was being explored and an assessment report was due soon.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court earlier heard Mr Chase rambled to police after his arrest about his issues with the welfare agency including that he was owed money dating back 20 years.

“Who gets a $150 a week, not an Aboriginal man with an alcohol problem,” he allegedly said as he was arrested on a tram on Keilor Road.

Detective Acting Sergeant Dale Eagle told the committal hearing Mr Chase was nonsensical and refused to eat or answer questions during an assessment to see if he was fit to be interviewed.

Mr Chase also allegedly told police he wanted a lawyer because of the “shit storm” at Centrelink.

Joeanne Cassar before the incident. Picture: Supplied

“The accused appears to have some form of mental illness, the accused states he hasn’t been diagnosed with any mental illness but was on antipsychotics a long time ago and has stopped using them,” a police remand summary stated.

Ms Cassar, who had worked for Services Australia for more than 30 years, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after she was stabbed in the lower back.

The court was told the stab wound missed major organs and arteries but did hit a spinal nerve, leaving her with a permanent disability including lower body pain.

She now struggles with daily activities and suffers low mood, poor sleep and PTSD symptoms in addition to “compounded trauma” after experiencing a number of violent assaults in the workplace over 20 years.

CCTV still show Mr Chase allegedly leaving the Airport West Centrelink branch. Picture: Supplied

On the morning of the incident, Mr Chase was asked to leave the branch before he returned at 1.25pm and asked Ms Cassar for an advance on his payment, a police summary states.

Ms Cassar asked him to wait outside while she contacted his support worker before he allegedly tried to punch her.

She turned to run away before Mr Chase allegedly pulled out a large kitchen knife and stabbed her in the back before fleeing.

Mr Chase was identified by a witness and arrested on a nearby tram a short time later.

Police allegedly found him with blood on his hands and seized two knives nearby.

The attack prompted a safety review of Centrelink offices across the country, with the federal government promising two trained guards would be stationed at offices deemed high-risk and tougher penalties for acts of violence and aggression toward workers.

Wearing a green prison-issued jumper, Mr Chase appeared via video link from custody and sat silently during the hearing.

He will face the County Court at a later date.