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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/26/student-charged-with-assault-over-attack-at-australian-national-university
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Student charged with assault over attack at Australian National University | Student charged with assault over attack at Australian National University |
| (5 months later) | |
| Alex Ophel referred for mental health assessment after being accused of approaching lecturer with baseball bat | |
| Christopher Knaus | |
| Sat 26 Aug 2017 05.03 BST | |
| Last modified on Sat 26 Aug 2017 05.15 BST | |
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| A student who allegedly attacked an Australian National University lecturer with a baseball bat on Friday has been referred for mental health assessment. | A student who allegedly attacked an Australian National University lecturer with a baseball bat on Friday has been referred for mental health assessment. |
| Alex Ophel, 18, fronted the ACT magistrates court on Saturday morning after being charged with several counts of assault, including intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm. | Alex Ophel, 18, fronted the ACT magistrates court on Saturday morning after being charged with several counts of assault, including intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm. |
| Police allege he sprung from his seat during a statistics class in Canberra on Friday morning and approached the female lecturer with the bat. | Police allege he sprung from his seat during a statistics class in Canberra on Friday morning and approached the female lecturer with the bat. |
| A group of students tried to intervene and restrain him, and were injured in the process. | A group of students tried to intervene and restrain him, and were injured in the process. |
| Four were taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, including broken bones. | Four were taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, including broken bones. |
| The defendant, represented by his lawyer Tim Sharman, was not required to enter a plea on Saturday. | The defendant, represented by his lawyer Tim Sharman, was not required to enter a plea on Saturday. |
| He said nothing during his brief appearance, and fronted the court wearing blue police forensic overalls. He was handcuffed and without shoes. | He said nothing during his brief appearance, and fronted the court wearing blue police forensic overalls. He was handcuffed and without shoes. |
| The defendant was referred for a mental health assessment on Saturday, under section 309 of the ACT’s crimes act. | The defendant was referred for a mental health assessment on Saturday, under section 309 of the ACT’s crimes act. |
| The law allows for defendants to be taken to a health facility for clinical examination, to determine whether they need immediate mental health treatment. | The law allows for defendants to be taken to a health facility for clinical examination, to determine whether they need immediate mental health treatment. |
| It is not known when he will return to court. | It is not known when he will return to court. |
| The alleged incident was expected to prompt additional security at the ANU’s open day on Saturday. | The alleged incident was expected to prompt additional security at the ANU’s open day on Saturday. |
| On Friday, the university’s deputy-vice chancellor, Marnie Hughes-Warrington, described the attack as “isolated and random”. | On Friday, the university’s deputy-vice chancellor, Marnie Hughes-Warrington, described the attack as “isolated and random”. |
| “The second thing I want to do is to acknowledge the remarkable bravery of our students and our staff during this incident,” Hughes-Warrington said. | “The second thing I want to do is to acknowledge the remarkable bravery of our students and our staff during this incident,” Hughes-Warrington said. |
| “This was a very, very unusual incident in Canberra. We know one another, we care for one another, and our highest priority is to look after one another.” | “This was a very, very unusual incident in Canberra. We know one another, we care for one another, and our highest priority is to look after one another.” |
| Canberra | |
| Australian universities | |
| Crime - Australia | |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | |
| Australian education | |
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