A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder following a stabbing attack in Merrylands, a suburb in Sydney’s west, that left one man dead and two others critically injured on Tuesday. The accused had absconded from a mental health facility ten days prior to the incident.
Police responded to reports of multiple stabbings on Merrylands Road around 10:00 am, discovering a 38-year-old man had died at the scene. A 47-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were transported to Westmead Hospital, where they remain in critical condition, according to police statements.
The alleged attacker was apprehended shortly after the incident on Smythe Street, a short distance from the site of the stabbings. He was taken into custody at Granville police station and on Wednesday morning was formally charged with one count of murder and two counts of wounding with intent to murder. He is scheduled to appear at Parramatta Local Court later today.
The Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) confirmed the accused was a recent patient at Cumberland Hospital, which provides acute inpatient care for individuals with complex mental health needs. According to WSLHD, the man left the facility while being transferred to Westmead Hospital emergency department on February 7 for further medical assessment.
“NSW Police were notified and contact was made with the patient’s family, but all attempts by WSLHD to contact the person were unsuccessful,” a WSLHD spokesperson stated. The District has announced a formal review of the man’s care and treatment, including an external assessment by a senior psychiatrist.
Superintendent Simon Glasser, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, indicated the man was previously known to police for minor offenses and had a history of mental health concerns. Glasser described the attack as a random incident, stating that the victims and the alleged perpetrator were not known to each other.
Police believe a knife, estimated to be between 20cm and 30cm in length, was used in the attack, which unfolded both inside a Nepalese mini mart and on the footpath outside. CCTV footage from inside the shop reportedly shows the alleged attacker approaching the counter shortly before the stabbings began, according to 9News.
The incident prompted a significant police response, with officers establishing a 50-meter crime scene along Merrylands Road. Witnesses reported a swift police presence, with the area locked down within minutes of the initial reports.