A 63-year-old Coles worker who was allegedly stabbed on the job is improving in hospital, as grim details emerge about the 13-year-old boy charged with her attempted murder.
Police allege the teenager took a knife from inside the supermarket in Ipswich’s Yamanto Shopping Centre, southwest of Brisbane, and approached Coles duty manager Claudia Campomayor Watt, 63, while she was stacking shelves.
He then allegedly stabbed the mum-of-two in the back, so severely that the knife came through her abdomen.
Ms Watt was rushed to Princess Alexander Hospital where her condition has improved overnight, and she remains in a stable condition, Daily Mail Australia understands.
It also emerged on Thursday that the alleged offender was reportedly living in a care home, receives support from the NDIS and has ‘complex needs’.
Coles supermarkets across Australia took all knives off their shelves on Wednesday in response to the alleged attack.
Say Sushi worker Dshering Dema was working across from the supermarket on Monday afternoon when she heard screaming and saw people running out of the store.
She went to see what the commotion was about and saw the woman had been stabbed in the back and was lying on the ground with blood pooling around her.
Ms Watt was rushed to Princess Alexander Hospital where her condition has improved overnight, and she remains in a stable condition
‘It was very scary, I came back and was shaking,’ she told AAP.
The boy tried to flee but shoppers and security staff restrained him until police arrived.
The teenager was charged overnight and his matter was mentioned in Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday.
The boy did not appear in person and duty lawyer Peta Dent asked for an adjournment for a brief of evidence to be prepared.
The teen was remanded in custody to face court again on February 25.
Detective Inspector Michael Manago condemned the violent attack.
‘This is an abhorrent crime that occurred to an innocent, 63-year-old woman who is going about her daily employment at that shopping centre and it shouldn’t happen in society,’ he said.
Police confirmed the alleged attack was random and they believe the boy acted alone.
It also emerged on Thursday that the alleged offender was reportedly living in a care home under the NDIS and has ‘complex needs’
Detectives are investigating how he obtained the knife, with recent legislation known as ‘Jack’s Law’ restricting their sales in Queensland.
Ms Dema said the incident has made her concerned about coming to work.
‘I now feel very unsafe here,’ she said.
Police have assured the community there would be extra high-visibility patrols at Yamanto Central.
A Coles spokesperson expressed their support for the injured worker and praised those who intervened.
‘Our thoughts are with our store team member and their family … we are committed to providing them with support, as well as their colleagues who are being offered counselling during this difficult time,’ the statement read.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also condemned the incident, calling it traumatic and reflective of a broader issue the state is grappling with.
‘What has unfolded is something that no Queenslander wants to see,’ he said.
Police allege the teenager took a knife from inside the supermarket in Ipswich’s Yamanto Shopping Centre, southwest of Brisbane, and stabbed Ms Watt
‘There’s a sense of deja-vu for the state and is exactly the kinds of incidents that Queenslanders have had enough of.’
The premier flagged further changes to youth justice legislation, following the ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws passed in December which did not include harsher sentences for attempted murder.
‘I’ve already indicated that we are putting together an expert panel to do future changes,’ he said.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles sent his condolences to the family of the worker who was ‘senselessly attacked’.
The incident comes almost a year after Ipswich grandmother Vyleen White was allegedly fatally stabbed by a teen boy in the carpark of a shopping centre.
Ms White’s daughter Cindy Micallef said she felt a sense of history repeating as she is about to mark the first anniversary of her mum’s death.
‘It’s absolutely awful. This is very surreal … it’s like deja-vu. How can this be happening again?’ she told Nine Network’s Today Show.
