A New South Wales court has heard a startling defense from a 60-year-old woman who claims the side effects of a popular weight-loss medication may have triggered a violent roadside attack on her own family. The woman, who remains unnamed for legal reasons, admitted to stabbing her daughter-in-law and 10-year-old grandson during a targeted incident in the Illawarra region last year.
The proceedings, held at the Wollongong District Court, revealed the harrowing details of a family shattered by a sudden act of aggression. The offender pleaded guilty in April to two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but her legal team has sought to introduce psychological evidence suggesting that Ozempic, a prescription drug used for diabetes and weight loss, played a role in her mental state during the crime.
The attack took place in Wongawilli, south of Wollongong, where the woman forced her family’s vehicle to pull over before attacking the passengers. The 27-year-old daughter-in-law sustained a stab wound to the abdomen, while the 10-year-old grandson was stabbed in the neck. The brutality of the event has left the victims with lasting physical and psychological scars, as detailed in emotional victim impact statements delivered to the court.
The Human Cost of a ‘Soul-Shattering’ Act
During the hearing, the mother of the injured child appeared via audiovisual link, her voice trembling as she described the persistent trauma of the event. She recounted the horror of attempting to stop her son’s bleeding while fearing for her own life, describing the experience as a “soul-shattering act that defies any moral standard.”
The psychological fallout has extended into the victim’s professional life. Formerly employed in the medical field, the mother told the court she has been unable to return to work because the sight of blood and sharp objects now triggers intense distress. “I flinch at the drop of a spoon or if I touch a kitchen knife,” she stated, describing an “implanted” sense of psychological terror.
The 10-year-old victim’s experience was conveyed through a written letter prepared with the help of a psychologist. The child described the moment the grandmother ran toward the car and the sudden shock of the attack, stating, “I felt something sharp… I thought I was going to die.”
The Defense: Medication and ‘Blackouts’
Appearing from protective custody in prison greens, the offender claimed she has no memory of the attack, describing the period as a “sizeable blur.” Despite this lack of recollection, she admitted to throwing the weapon—a 15-centimetre fishing knife—out of her car window as she fled the scene.
The core of the defense rests on the woman’s use of Ozempic (semaglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The offender testified that after breaking her arm in a fall and quitting smoking, she gained weight, leading her doctor to prescribe the medication. Her defense argued that psychological experts believe the drug’s side effects may have influenced her violent behavior.
The offender expressed deep remorse through an apology letter written to her son, stating that she did not know what she was doing and emphasizing her love for her family. However, the court heard that she had previously misunderstood the terms of a five-year apprehended violence order that had been taken out against her by her son and his family.
Prosecution Challenges the ‘Blackout’ Theory
The Crown prosecutor strongly contested the notion that the attack was a spontaneous result of medication-induced impairment. Evidence presented to the court suggested a level of premeditation that contradicts the claim of a complete blackout.
Prosecutors alleged that the offender had specifically inquired about the route the victims would take to judo practice, allowing her to follow them with the intent to intimidate them. Police discovered black latex gloves stored in the vehicle’s console alongside the weapon. While the offender claimed the gloves were for her cleaning job, the prosecution argued they were part of a planned effort to commit the crime.
The sequence of events following the attack also complicates the defense’s narrative. Police arrested the woman the following morning in nearby Horsley, and it was noted that she had confessed to her son and daughter shortly after the incident before returning to her granny flat.
Legal Timeline and Key Details
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident Location | Wongawilli, South of Wollongong |
| Charges | Two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm |
| Guilty Plea | Entered in April |
| Weapon Used | 15cm fishing knife |
| Sentencing Date | Late June |
As the legal process concludes, this case adds to a growing discourse regarding the psychological side effects of potent weight-loss medications, though medical consensus generally links these drugs to gastrointestinal and metabolic changes rather than acute violent episodes. The court must now weigh the medical claims of the defense against the evidence of pre-planning presented by the Crown.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice. For information regarding medication side effects, consult a licensed healthcare provider.
If you or a loved one has been affected by family violence, support is available through Lifeline Australia or 1800RESPECT.
Judge Imad Abdul-Karim is scheduled to hand down the final sentence in late June. We will provide updates as the court’s decision is made public.
Do you believe medication side effects should be considered mitigating factors in violent crimes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
