Not guilty verdict for mother accused of stabbing children on motorway
A mother who was accused of stabbing both her children has been found not guilty due to mental incompetence.
Megan Jayne Somerville, 37, of Modbury Heights appeared in South Australia’s Supreme Court on Thursday via video link from her current mental health facility.
Justice Sandi McDonald handed down her findings, declaring the mother-of-two was mentally incompetent at the time of the offending due to drug abuse.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Ms Somerville was mentally incompetent to commit the two offences of attempted murder because at the time of the relevant incident Ms Somerville was suffering from mental impairment and as a consequence didn’t know her conduct was wrong,” she said.
Somerville’s lawyers argued that she was high on drugs at the time of the stabbing and was not aware her actions were wrong.
McDonald said that Somerville may be kept in a mental health facility rather than serve any time in prison.
The case will return to court in June to hear Victim impact statements and determine if supervision will be required when Somervillle is released back into the community.
