MELBOURNE, Australia — A 27-year-old Liberian-born man has been charged after allegedly attacking a 10-year-old boy and his mother in Melbourne’s central business district, in an incident that occurred near Victoria Police headquarters.
The man, identified as Jerry Sowood, is accused of punching the 10-year-old boy in the head before allegedly attacking the boy’s 46-year-old mother, Cherie, with a pair of scissors when she intervened.
The family had reportedly travelled from Phillip Island to Melbourne because the boy, who is battling a brain tumour, was due to receive medical treatment.
According to reports presented in court, Sowood allegedly placed Cherie in a headlock and stabbed her multiple times with the scissors in front of her three children, aged 10, 11 and 16.
Three bystanders intervened during the incident, physically restraining Sowood until police arrived. Victoria Police described the actions of the bystanders as “heroic,” saying their intervention prevented the situation from becoming even more serious.
Cherie reportedly suffered a fractured leg and damage to ligaments in her neck. Medical specialists are also examining whether the incident caused additional inflammation around her son’s brain tumour.
During his court appearance, Sowood reportedly made statements acknowledging the alleged attacks, saying: “I punched the kid in the head… I took the scissors and I stabbed the woman in the head.”
He also reportedly told the court that he had “kept his humanity” because both victims remained alive.
Sowood is further reported to have told the court that he had been in a “mental state of mind” at the time of the alleged attack. Any claims concerning his mental state will be subject to assessment through the legal process.
Reports also indicate that Sowood had previously come to the attention of authorities in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. He is also reported to have had previous court matters listed in Victoria, although those matters are separate from the current allegations.
Social-media material and online profiles attributed to Sowood have also drawn attention following the incident, including material portraying him as an aspiring rapper and investor. Some online posts reportedly contain violent or confrontational language. However, such material does not by itself establish criminal intent or prove that it was connected to the alleged attack.
Sowood remains in custody and faces multiple charges arising from the incident. The allegations against him have not been proven in court.
The case has attracted significant public attention, particularly because the alleged attack occurred while the family was in Melbourne seeking medical treatment for the young boy.
