Perth woman allegedly laced colleague’s curry with snail poison

A woman has been charged after allegedly lacing her colleague’s work lunch with snail poison.

Detectives say the workplace incident took place at a business in Oldbury, south of Perth, in February.

Police allege the 43-year-old woman who has been charged was in a relationship with the 58-year-old female victim.

It’s alleged the victim had brought a container of curry to work on February 12 to share with colleagues, with some of the meal eaten without issue during morning tea.

Police allege the 43-year-old then went into a chemical storage shed before returning to the staff lunchroom where the leftover food was sitting.

When the victim returned to the curry at lunchtime, she spotted bright green granules mixed through the dish, police said.

She allegedly tasted a small amount before her tongue went numb.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the victim realised something was wrong immediately.

“We’re just very thankful that the person who tasted the curry was aware that something wasn’t quite right - they clearly had some early adverse effects to that,” he said.

Following testing, police allege the granules were snail pellets containing metaldehyde, a common pesticide to control slugs and snails 

The 43-year-old woman was arrested at in Golden Bay on October 8. 

She has been charged with an unlawful act with intent to harm, specifically endangering the life, health, or safety of another person.

She is set to appear in Armadale Magistrates Court on November 5.