by Cam Lucadou-Wells and Ethan Benedicto
A man has been accused of stabbing a victim five millimetres from their heart at a Berwick shopping centre on Sunday 11 August, according to charge sheets tendered at court.
Jikany Puoch, 29, of Berwick, did not apply for bail at a hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 12 August.
Casey CIU charged Puoch with nine offences relating to the incident, including two counts of reckless conduct endangering death, two counts of intentionally causing injury and two counts of recklessly causing injury.
Puoch was also charged with violent affray, using a controlled weapon as well as causing $5000 of property damage to glass doors, display fridges, a coffee machine, glass containers and plates.
Police have publicly allegedly that Puoch armed himself with the knife from a nearby store before stabbing a 24-year-old Cranbourne North man in the chest.
The wound was 5mm from his heart, according to the charge sheets.
A 77-year-old man from Berwick was injured when he intervened to subdue the man before police arrived, according to police.
Both alleged victims were taken to hospital with the 24-year-old sustaining serious injuries, and the 77-year-old with non-life threatening injuries.
Police have stated they believe it was a random attack, with the people involved not knowing each other.
In the courtroom, police submitted to uplift the matter to a higher court due to the seriousness of the alleged offending.
Magistrate Jacinta Studham adjourned the application to hear more details on the alleged victim’s injuries.
Meanwhile, Puoch was diagnosed with depression and PTSD, and was likely to be withdrawing from drugs and alcohol, a defence lawyer told the court.
He also suffered a suspected shoulder injury during his arrest, the lawyer said. It was Puoch’s first time in custody.
Ms Studham requested a custody doctor to assess Puoch’s suspected injury.
Puoch was remanded to appear via video link at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 19 August.
A police application to revoke Puoch’s bail was also adjourned until next week.
