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Woman charged after allegedly poisoning colleague's curry lunch with snail pellets

Perth woman due in court in November over incident in workplace lunchroom

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources6 outlets
Western Australian police have charged a 43-year-old woman after she allegedly contaminated a colleague's curry with snail pellets containing the poisonous substance metaldehyde, leaving the victim with a numb tongue.

A woman has been charged after allegedly poisoning a co-worker's lunch curry with snail pellets at a workplace in Perth's southern suburbs.

Western Australian police say a 58-year-old woman brought a container of curry to share with colleagues in February. A 43-year-old woman then allegedly contaminated the dish with snail pellets containing metaldehyde, a poisonous substance, according to a police spokesperson.

The curry had been shared among employees and consumed without issue during a morning tea break, police said. After the meal, the accused allegedly accessed a chemical storage shed and later entered the staff lunchroom where the food was kept.

At lunchtime, the alleged victim returned to eat more of her curry. When she opened the container, she spotted bright green granules in the food.

"After tasting a small amount, (she) experienced numbness to her tongue," the police spokesperson said.

It will be alleged the accused and the victim were in a personal relationship.

Detectives arrested the woman last week. She has been charged with one count of unlawful act or omission with intent to harm (endangering the life, health or safety of any person) and is scheduled to appear before Armadale Magistrates Court on 5 November.

Police declined to provide further information about the relationship or the workplace.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The case involves an alleged deliberate attempt to poison a colleague in a shared workplace food setting, raising serious workplace safety concerns.
  • The charge carries significant potential penalties and relates to conduct that allegedly endangered another person's life, health or safety.
  • The court outcome will determine whether the allegations are proven, and the case may prompt workplaces to reconsider how shared food is handled.

Background

Snail pellets commonly contain metaldehyde, a substance used to control slugs and snails that is toxic to humans and animals if ingested. While workplace disputes are not uncommon, allegations that a colleague deliberately laced shared food with a pesticide are highly unusual. The case will now be tested through the court process, which relies on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Key Perspectives

Police: The WA Police investigation led to the arrest and charging of the 43-year-old woman, with officers alleging she accessed a chemical storage shed after the morning tea and later entered the lunchroom where the curry was kept.

The accused: The woman faces one charge of unlawful act or omission with intent to harm. She will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations in court.

Critics/Skeptics: Observers may question how the alleged contamination went unnoticed until lunchtime, and how access to a chemical storage shed was possible. The court will need to weigh the evidence, including the relationship between the two women and the circumstances of the incident.

What to Watch

  • The accused's first court appearance at Armadale Magistrates Court on 5 November.
  • Whether police disclose further details about the relationship or workplace as the case progresses.
  • Potential additional charges or outcomes from the court process, including any plea or finding.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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