Woman denies poisoning husband with common element

A woman has pleaded not guilty in court over allegations she tried to get her husband to overdose on an essential trace element.

Selenium is found in nature as a mineral, but is also an essential trace element in humans which supports thyroid function, and is fatal in high doses.

A woman accused of trying to poison her husband with selenium, will go to trial in a Perth court after entering a plea of not guilty.

Bozena Knapinski, 62, has been charged with the attempted murder of her husband Robert Knapinski, also 62 years old.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

WA Police allege Mrs Knapinski used selenium to poison Mr Knapinski over two years, since the start of 2021.

Selenium is found in nature as a mineral, but is also an essential trace element in humans which supports thyroid function, and is fatal in high doses.

Selenium is found in nature as a mineral, but is also an essential trace element in humans that supports thyroid function, and is fatal in high doses.

Police in a bail hearing for Mrs Knapinski told the court her husband of 39 years had been experiencing ailing health since early 2021, showing symptoms that doctors had no explanation for.

However, his health began to improve after a four-month holiday to Poland, leading Mr Knapinski to suspect his wife, the court heard.

Mrs Knapinski appeared in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday, held within Perth’s Supreme Court building. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ross Swanborough

Police will allege she administered the poison by squirting a large amount of liquid from a bottle into Mr Knapinski’s water bottles

However Mrs Knapinski’s lawyer Michael Tudori has previously told the court his client’s husband is a “hypochondriac” and that she was only trying to help him with his health problems.

On Wednesday, Mrs Knapinski had her first appearance date in the Supreme Court set for November 27, and her bail was renewed on the same conditions.

Originally published as Woman denies poisoning husband with common element