Momena Shoma pleads guilty to stabbing homestay host Roger Singaravelu

A Bangladeshi student has pleaded guilty to stabbing her homestay host in an act of terrorism to advocate jihad.

Momena Shoma, who has pleaded guilty to stabbing her Roger Singaravelu at his Mill Park home.

A Bangladeshi student has pleaded guilty to stabbing her Melbourne homestay host in February in an act of terrorism to advocate violent jihad.

Momena Shoma stabbed Roger Singaravelu at Mill Park on February 9, just one day after she moved into his family home.

Ms Shoma had arrived in Melbourne on February 1 and had stayed with another family before moving to Mill Park.

The 25-year-old was originally charged with engaging in a terrorist act and attempted murder however the second charge was not proceeded with.

Roger Singaravelu suffered injuries to his spine and hand. Picture: AAP

Mr Singaravelu suffered damage to his spine and hand as a result of the attack.

This morning Shoma appeared before the Supreme Court and formally pleaded guilty.

Ms Shoma did not stand when Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth entered the court but complied when asked to remove her niqab to confirm her identity.

She had previously refused to stand for Magistrate Sarah Dawes during her one day committal hearing in July.

Ms Shoma told police after her arrest that she had acted on the direction of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

She said her homestay host looked like an “easy target” as he slept near his young daughter.

“I had to do it … it could have been anyone … he just seemed like a very easy target,” she said. “I had to push myself. I wouldn’t even hurt a rat … I just felt like if I don’t do it, I will be sinful, I will be punished by Allah.”

Justice Hollingworth ordered Shoma return to court in January for a sentencing submissions.