Mother and young son’s alleged random stabber claims ‘humanity intact’

A boy allegedly punched by a man who then stabbed his mother with a pair of scissors has been revealed as having brain cancer.

Jerry Sowood, 27, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court from police custody cells on Wednesday, a day after he allegedly attacked the young family in the city centre.

Sowood is accused of striking the boy, aged 10, outside Victoria Police headquarters on Spencer Street about 1pm on Tuesday.

After landing a blow to the boy’s upper body, Sowood continued walking before doubling back and put the boy’s mother in a headlock as she tried to intervene, a witness alleged.

Sowood allegedly used scissors to repeatedly stab the mother, 46, in the upper body before passers-by pulled him off her.

Good Samaritan Brian Bradley told 9News he acted on “instinct” when he saw the mother.

“No thoughts ... people are in trouble,” Bradley said.

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Mother repeatedly stabbed, young son punched in ‘horrific’ random Melbourne CBD attack

“To me, men have got to stand up and start taking action.”

Sowood was charged on Tuesday night with a series of assault-related offences including affray, intentionally causing injury, two counts of unlawful assault, conduct endangering life and conduct endangering serious injury.

The boy and his mother, who were visiting from the Phillip Island township of Cowes for the boy to get treatment, were taken to separate hospitals on Tuesday afternoon.

The mother is in hospital with a fractured leg, while the boy is undergoing MRI scans.

The boy’s uncle Kirk Holt told 9News he was “absolutely disgusted” by the situation.

“(They) just arrived in Melbourne, they were going to their hotel, and out of nowhere,” Holt said.

“She is really struggling at the moment, can’t be with her son, it’s traumatic enough fighting cancer.

“They are now looking to see if it’s caused any extra damage, if there’s more inflammation around where the tumour is.”

Sowood represented himself as he faced court for the first time on Wednesday afternoon.

He told the magistrate he did not want to speak to a lawyer or be assessed by a custody nurse, before discussing the allegations in open court.

“I was in a mental state of mind when I did what I did,” he said.

“At least they’re both still breathing so I kept my humanity intact.”

His video link was muted as magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano noted there was no application for bail so Sowood would remain in custody until next court date in November.

When Sowood’s link was unmuted to confirm he had heard, the 27-year-old then said, “even though I did what I did, a mother did not lose her child”.

The boy’s two siblings witnessed the alleged attack.

“Fortunately, they weren’t injured,” Superintendent Zorka Dunstan told reporters on Tuesday.

“But obviously they have been impacted, witnessing such (an) incident.”

Dunstan, who also saw the incident from her office, said police were horrified it could happen outside a police station.

“I’m just grateful that we had people assist immediately,” she said.

Police do not believe the parties knew one another. 

– Reported with AAP