The man accused of attempting to murder neurosurgeon Dr Michael Wong at the Western Hospital in Footscray will stand trial in the Supreme Court in November.
Justice Lex Lasry on Friday said the trial of Kareem Al-Salami, who allegedly knifed Dr Wong in the back as the doctor arrived for work before repeatedly stabbing him, would proceed on November 23.
Mr Al-Salami, 49, has pleaded not guilty to 26 charges including attempting to murder Dr Wong, intentionally causing serious injury and assaulting other hospital staff on February 18, 2014.
Mr Al-Salami is scheduled to be interviewed by a Forensicare psychiatrist on July 27 to determine if he was mentally impaired at the time of the stabbing. Forensicare is responsible for providing adult forensic mental health services in Victoria.
A police summary tendered during an earlier hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court revealed Mr Al-Salami had been a patient of Dr Wong’s and blamed him for his chronic neck, back and leg pain.
The next appointment Mr Al-Salami had scheduled with Dr Wong was on February 18, 2014, at 9.15am at the Western Hospital.
Dr Wong arrived for work that day at about 8.20am and was walking through the hospital foyer when Mr Al-Salami allegedly stabbed him in the back with a 19cm black handled Wiltshire stainless steel knife.
Dr Wong fell to the ground and Mr Al-Salami, according to the police summary, “started stabbing the victim … taking two or three swipes at him with the knife”.
Police said Mr Al-Salami then proceeded to stab and slash Dr Wong to the face, chest, hands, forearms, torso, stomach and legs about 25-30 times.
Three people tried to drag Dr Wong away but Mr Al-Salami allegedly threatened them with a knife before stabbing Dr Wong in the neck when the neurosurgeon was not moving.
Dr Wong was eventually taken away for life-saving surgery and Mr Al-Salami arrested.
Over the next 10 hours, Dr Wong lost his entire supply of blood (between five and six litres were replaced with transfusions) as his colleagues worked hard to save his life.
Dr Wong has since regained full movement in his arms and hands, allowing him to return to work.
This story first appeared in The Age
