Alleged ANU Stabber to Plead Not Guilty, Awaiting Mental Impairment Assessment

Content Warning: violence, assault, mentions of mental health

Written by: Rowey Worner Butcher

Alleged ANU stabber, Alex Ophel is facing trial for two charges of attempted murder, two charges of assault, and one charge of possessing a knife. 

The court is currently waiting on the finalisation of a mental health assessment for Ophel. Ophel’s lawyer, Tim Sharman originally requested for an adjournment for the court in December 2023 for the process to take place.  

On Monday nineteenth of September, Ophel allegedly assaulted two male students with a frying pan at Fellows Oval, near Chifley Library, before allegedly stabbing two female students. Both stabbing victims were taken to hospital and have since been released. 

Lawyers representing Ophel indicated that they would plead not guilty to the charges at the ACT Magistrate’s Court on 14 March 2024. 

In recent months, ANU has since outlined the “significant steps” taken to “enhance our campus safety”. This includes reviews and improvements to security arrangements on campus, and upgrading their emergency communication system, as well as making updates to incident response policies. 

These updates will see scheduled scenario exercises play out in 2024 to ensure the ANU’s incident response team is “well-practiced”. 

In response to the incident, ACT Police will also now use parts of the ANU campus for training. 

ANU has also made representations to the ACT Government, and “advocated strongly” to the Chief Psychiatrist on the “[ANU] community’s behalf” as part of the ongoing review into “the circumstances surrounding the incident.” 

In the meantime, the case will return to court in May for a committal hearing.  

More to come.

For anyone distressed by the content of this story and needing support, ANU offers a range of student support services which can be found here, or staff support services which are available here.

Graphics by: Annisa Zatalini

Know something we don’t know? Email [email protected] or use our anonymous tip submission.

If you have an issue with this article, or a correction to make, you can contact us at [email protected], submit a formal dispute, or angry react the Facebook post.

Want to get involved? You can write articles, photograph, livestream or do web support. We’re also looking for someone to yell “extra!” outside Davey Lodge at 1AM. Apply today!