A lady who reportedly stabbed her children on a highway in Adelaide has been remanded in jail after being charged with two charges of attempted murder. A man who interfered in the incident has been lauded by police, who say his efforts saved a considerably worse scenario.
Monday night, Megan Jayne Somerville allegedly stopped her vehicle on the North-South Motorway, withdrew her two young sons, and repeatedly stabbed them with a knife. Tuesday, Somerville appeared in court from her hospital bed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
A member of the public stopped his vehicle on the highway and intervened, disarming the lady, as claimed by the police.
Soon after, two other members of the public aided him and detained the lady until police came.
Two boys were sent to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
On Tuesday morning, the eight-year-old had surgery for his wounds and was expected to make a complete recovery.
His three-year-old sibling was also anticipated to have surgery, and his health was characterized as stable.
Their mother, age 35, was sent to Royal Adelaide Hospital for a medical evaluation.
Although her attorneys were permitted to attend an earlier bail hearing, court records revealed that she was remanded in jail until her December court date.
Superintendent Selena Dinning said after the event that police were exceedingly appreciative to the man and the other individuals who assisted.
Superintendent Dinning said, “If this man hadn’t stopped, the situation would have been lot worse.”
“We are quite pleased that he stopped, and we are also extremely thankful to the two other members of the public who aided him.
This, we believe, was a really courageous act by him. We are ecstatic that he was in the right place at the right time.’
Superintendent Dinning said that it is unknown what caused the event or where the lady was headed.
She stated, “She was on the freeway, so it’s not that far (from her house), but I don’t know why she was there.”
Prior interactions between the family and the police and child protective agencies will be examined and presented to the court as evidence.
In addition to communicating with authorities on the children’s ongoing care, police have already identified other family members, including the father of the two boys.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said that the event reports were “obviously alarming.”
“There are plenty unsolved questions here. The police inquiry should be allowed to take its course,’ he said.
It is tough to get one’s mind around. If the claims are confirmed to be genuine, only God knows what led to this utter catastrophe.