Alex Ophel committed to stand trial over the alleged attempted murder of two women at the Australian National University
By Lottie TwyfordIn short:
The man accused of trying to kill two 20-year-old women at the ANU after he allegedly stabbed them in September last year has been committed to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
Alex Ophel is facing two charges of attempted murder, as well as two charges of assault and one count of possessing an offensive weapon.
What's next?
The case will now move to the ACT's higher court, with a first hearing set for July 17.
The man accused of stabbing two women at the Australian National University (ANU) in September last year has been committed to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
Alex Ophel is facing multiple charges, including two of attempted murder, after he allegedly stabbed one woman multiple times before attacking a second woman at Fellows Oval near the Chifley Library.
The then-24-year-old had allegedly already hit a male student with a frying pan and later allegedly hit another man.
Both women were taken to hospital with serious injuries and were released last year.
Mr Ophel appeared via video link in the ACT Magistrates Court today.
He spoke only once, telling the court he could not hear his lawyer Tim Sharman speaking.
Earlier this year, Mr Ophel's lawyer indicated his client would enter pleas of not guilty to two charges of attempted murder, two counts of assault and one of possessing a knife, claiming his client was suffering from mental impairment.
The case has been delayed multiple times, including to allow Mr Ophel to undergo a psychiatric assessment last year.
It was initially due to be committed to the ACT Supreme Court in May but the court heard his lawyers were still waiting on a mental health report.
At the time, Special Magistrate Lucinda Wilson described the matter as getting "long in the tooth", something she said was unfortunate.
The accused has been remanded in custody since the incident.
The case will now go before the ACT Supreme Court on July 17.