Evie Amati was on ‘feel-good’ drug during axe attack, court told

A WOMAN on trial for attempted murder was on a “euphoric” drug when she swung an axe at a man, a court has heard.

WARNING: Graphic

ACCUSED axe attacker Evie Amati was on an emotionally bonding “feel-good” drug when she allegedly struck a 7-Eleven customer in the face with an axe blow that could have killed him, a court has been told.

The trial of Evie Amati heard on Thursday that the accused, then aged 24, had consumed alcohol, cannabis and MDA, a drug that “is euphoric” and “makes people feel good”.

Forensic pharmacologist John Farrar told the court that analysis of Ms Amati’s blood after the alleged axe attack showed a moderate quantity of MDA “which is not associated with aggression or violence”.

Mr Farrar said the MDA taken by Ms Amatti was known as “the love drug”

“MDA … tends to cause increased trust in other people. emotional; bonding. Primary people take it … as a sort of feel good response,” he said.

He was giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial of Ms Amati, now aged 26, in Sydney’s Downing Centre Court.

The jury was shown CCTV footage of the attack at the Enmore 7-Eleven store.

Ms Amati is charged with six offences including two of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and one of attempting to do so at the Enmore 7-Eleven around 2.20am on January 7, 2017.

Ms Amati’s barrister Charles Waterstereet has argued that Ms Amati was suffering from mental health issues and was “out of her mind” at the time of the alleged attacks on three victims.

Plastic surgeon Shiv Chopra gave evidence about the wounds he treated on Ben Rimmer, who was buying a pie at the 7-Eleven at the time of the incident.

Dr Chopra said Mr Rimmer, 33, was admitted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on the morning of the attack with “massive trauma” to his face.

Mr Rimmer, who had fractures to his eye socket, and nasal and cheek bones, underwent five hours of reconstructive surgery at RPA.

Asked by Crown Prosecutor Daniel McMahon to compare the damage to Mr Rimmer’ face, Dr Chopra said it was similar to a significant car accident, falling from height or sustaining blows to the face from a weapon, fist or foot.

“A millimetre or two above [would have had] significant consequences, potentially life threatening,” Dr Chopra said.

“Just under the top part of his nose, and just underneath his eye. A few millimetres above would mean a massive bleed to the brain.”

Mr Rimmer was seen in the CCTV footage bleeding from the fact.

Ben Rimmer was left with ‘massive trauma’ to his face. Picture: Ben Rushton/AAP

Intensive care paramedic Megan Coolahan gave evidence saying that tests on Ms Amati after she had been handcuffed and taken into custody showed “she wasn’t unconscious”.

Ms Coolahan said Ms Amati was lying on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance handcuffed and she “appeared unconscious”.

But when the paramedic tested the accused, Ms Amati’s eyelids had flickered and she was “opening and closing her hands”.

When they reached St Vincents Hospital, Ms Coolahan said she had observed Ms Amati sit bolt upright, pull out her airway tube and become “quite agitated”.

“When she pulled out the tube she said something like, ‘should I shove this up my a**e?’,” Ms Coolahan said.

“At one point she grabbed my wrist in a lock and we had to further restrain her.”

Asked by Mr Waterhouse if she could tell Ms Amati’s state of mind, Ms Coolahan said she couldn’t.

Mr Waterhouse asked if Ms Amati “could have been somewhere between unconsciousness and consciousness”.

Evie Amati is charged with six offences including two counts of attempted murder. Picture: Facebook

“My 15 years of experience and her recall at hospital suggests that she knew what was happening,” Ms Coolahan said.

On Tuesday this week, the jury in the District Court trial before Judge Mark Williams was shown a graphic video of the alleged attack by Ms Amati in Enmore 7-Eleven.

The video shows Ms Amati stroll into the convenience store carrying an axe and a knife in her back pocket.

The video shows Ms Amati swing the axe up and bring it down on Mr Rimmer, and then a second customer, Sharon Hacker.

After having a second attempt to bring down the axe on Ms Hacker lying in the doorway, Ms Amati then strolls out on to the street.

The trial continues.

The 7-Eleven store after the attack. Picture: Gordon McComiskie