A MAN accused of stabbing two police officers during a chaotic and frenzied melee at Toronto in October last year has a mental health defence available to him, Newcastle District Court has heard.
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Oliver Tam Scales Copeland, 25, of Bronte, will likely face a two-day judge-alone trial which will focus primarily on his mental state at the time he is accused of attacking two police officers at a service station on October 6 last year.
Mr Copeland appeared in court on Thursday via audio visual link from Long Bay Prison Hospital and pleaded not guilty to six charges, including using an offensive weapon with intent to intimidate, wounding a person with intent to resist arrest, reckless wounding, reckless grievous bodily harm and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to resist arrest. Defence lawyer Sherleen Chand said the trial would focus on a narrow issue and Mr Copeland had a mental health defence available to him.
Mr Copeland is accused of being involved in a road rage incident before slashing a car tyre and then attacking police who responded from nearby Toronto police station. The trial is listed to start on June 25 and will likely run for two days.
