Stab suspect off meds
Accused escaped mental health care, court told
A MUM who allegedly hospitalised a popular teacher after attacking him with scissors at school had escaped a mental health facility two weeks earlier, a court has heard.
The woman, who is accused of stabbing 28-year-old Zane Vockler in the head and arm, was refused bail when she appeared in Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday via videolink.
Prosecutor Sergeant Nathan Lockett told the court the 31-year-old woman had a history of assault, suffered “significant mental health issues” and was unmedicated after escaping mental health facility.
Byron Bay Public School teacher Mr Vockler – who had surgery after suffering a fractured arm, deep wound behind his left ear and arm and face cuts – was “lucky to be alive”, Sgt Lockett said.
“It was a targeted and premeditated attack and it was completely unprovoked,” he told the court. “The victim is lucky to be alive.”
NSW Police were called to Byron Bay Public School on Kingsley St about 7am on Tuesday.
The woman was speaking to Mr Vockler on the premises a before she attacked with scissors and fled the school, police allege.
Mr Vockler was taken to Tweed Hospital in a stable condition, where he underwent emergency surgery.
The school was placed into lockdown for several hours and a crime scene was established.
Tweed police arrested the woman at a home on Beach Side Dve at Suffolk Park about 10.30am on Tuesday.
She was charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and entering a property without a lawful excuse.
The NSW Department of Education confirmed an incident had taken place involving a staff member at the school.
“Strict security measures were taken until police confirmed it was safe for the school to operate as normal,” a spokesman said.
In court, Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy issued a suppression order prohibiting identification of the woman’s son and the boy’s father.
The woman appeared in a blue sleeveless tracksuit and stared at the camera throughout most of the mention.
Mr Dunlevy adjourned the case to June 27 at Byron Bay Local Court.
The woman asked Mr Dunlevy if she could speak to the court, but he ignored that request.
IT WAS A TARGETED AND PREMEDITATED ATTACK AND IT WAS COMPLETELY UNPROVOKED. THE VICTIM IS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.