Melinda Joye Le Miere, 47, sentenced for Toowoomba courthouse knife threat

The woman who ran at a Queensland courthouse brandishing a large knife above her head has said she did not plan to hurt anyone.

The woman behind the Toowoomba courthouse knife attack has broken down, claiming she never wanted to hurt anyone.

Melinda Joye Le Miere, 47, appeared via video link before a Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, pleading guilty to two offences in relation to the attack on the Toowoomba police station and courthouse on August 15.

The court heard Ms Le Miere committed the offences in an attempt to end her life after struggling with mental health.

The mother of two ran across traffic hoping to be struck down but, when this failed, she proceeded to run towards the police station with a knife above her head.

“There were a number of members of the public present in the front foyer of the station as well as tradesmen conducting work,” Police prosecutor Chris Willson said.

“Police challenged the defendant, telling her repeatedly to put the knife down, she refused and kept advancing towards the doors.”

She then turned towards the courthouse before she was taken down by a responding officer with a taser.

Police and QAS outside the Toowoomba Courthouse after it was placed in lockdown after Melinda Joye Le Miere brandished a knife outside the building, Thursday, August 15, 2024.

“It would have been quite terrifying for not only the police, members of the public, the tradesman but also the security guards present,” he said.

“She is a vulnerable person … police are not going to shy away from that, we are not going to minimise that in any way.”

Ms Le Miere had been a patient at the mental health care unit of Toowoomba Hospital before the attack.

Solicitor Phil Stainton, appearing as duty lawyer, said Ms Le Miere had been assessed by hospital staff two days before the attack but was ultimately deemed unsuitable for admission.

“(In the discharge papers) certainly, there is nothing indicated that my client raised an intention to harm herself or go to the police station on that date,” he said.

“She did raise significant mental health issues but it was deemed that it was not a matter that she could be admitted on.”

Mr Stainton said Ms Le Miere, who is diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, borderline personality disorder and complex PTSD from a life of trauma, had no intention to hurt anyone but herself.

“It is the last thing she wanted to do,” he said.

“She simply wanted to be shot by police.”

Magistrate Kyna Morice accepted Ms Le Miere had no ill intent directed at the public and police but stressed harm was still caused.

“The unfortunate by-product of your actions is that those other people didn’t know that,” she said.

“(Police) could’ve taken a different cause of action which could have been fatal; I understand that’s what you were hoping for on that day.

“That would not have only been an impact on you, that would then be an impact on the officer who had to respond in that way.”

Ms Le Miere was formally charged with going armed as to cause fear and assaulting a police officer.

She was sentenced to six months probation after spending 20 days in pre-sentence custody.

She was also ordered to complete a mental health assessment and treatment plan.

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