Moses Thurairajasingam: Man accused of stabbing cop bailed for psych review

A man accused of stabbing an officer after luring him to his house with a fake police report has been bailed to complete an inpatient psychiatric assessment.

Moses Thurairajasingam, 18, made the application in the Victorian Supreme Court on Wednesday after he was first denied bail in the magistrates court.

It’s alleged he called triple zero on the afternoon of September 3, claiming there was an aggravated burglary at his home in Melbourne’s southeast.

When police arrived, Thurairajasingam allegedly produced a knife and stabbed one of the officers in the upper thigh, leaving behind a five-centimetre-deep wound.

The other officer ordered Thurairajasingam to drop the knife, which he did before repeatedly asking the police to shoot him so he could go to heaven.

Thurairajasingam’s sister Abigail said her brother asked earlier that day whether police would shoot him if he stabbed them but she didn’t think anything of the conversation.

Thurairajasingam’s lawyer Matthew Cramer said his client denied any suicidal ideation, although there was a possible schizophrenia diagnosis that needed to be explored.

Dandenong Hospital could assess him for a compulsory inpatient treatment order within the next 24 hours, Mr Cramer told the Supreme Court

Thurairajasingam could be transported via ambulance to the hospital, with staff and his family able to supervise him during the assessment.

Thurairajasingam’s mother Angela Sundaram told the court the alleged offending was out of character for her son, but she was willing to keep a closer eye on him if he was bailed.

She also said her family did not agree with suicide due to their religious beliefs.

Abigail Thurairajasingam told the court she could no longer recall the conversation she had with her brother on the day of the alleged stabbing.

But she said she would supervise Thurairajasingam and report to the police any concerning conversations or behaviours.

Prosecutor Matthew Fisher urged Justice Jane Dixon to refuse bail, saying Thurairajasingam was an unacceptable risk to the community and emergency service workers.

Mr Fisher said Dandenong Hospital was not a secure facility and there was a risk Thurairajasingam would abscond.

Justice Dixon described the allegations as very serious but she found Thurairajasingam’s risk to the community could be reduced through stringent bail conditions.

She ordered the 18-year-old to be transported by ambulance to the hospital for a psychiatric assessment.

If he is not deemed suitable for the compulsory treatment order, then he will have to return to the Supreme Court on Thursday for his bail to be reviewed.

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