2016 Home Hill stabbings

2016 Home Hill stabbings
Location30 Ninth Ave, Home Hill, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates19°39′43″S 147°24′52″E / 19.661974°S 147.414460°E / -19.661974; 147.414460
Date23 August 2016 (2016-08-23)
11:15 pm AEST (UTC+10:00)
Attack type
Stabbing
Deaths2
Injured1
PerpetratorSmail Ayad

On 23 August 2016, Smail Ayad, a 29-year-old French national, carried out a stabbing attack at a backpackers' hostel in Home Hill, Queensland, Australia. The attack caused the death of two people and a dog, and left one person injured.[1]

It was alleged that Ayad used the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" both during the attack and his arrest,[2] and while police had ruled out any links to extremism, they were still investigating whether he had a romantic interest in victim Mia Ayliffe-Chung.[3] Police have indicated Ayad had used cannabis on the night of the attack.[4] He also sang the French national anthem during the attack.[5][6]

On 25 August 2016, Ayad was charged with the crimes of murder, attempted murder, serious animal cruelty and serious assault.[7] On 27 October 2016, Ayad's trial was adjourned to Mental Health Court, as a result of determining a preliminary diagnosis of schizophrenia.[8] This diagnosis was confirmed by the Mental Health Court on 5 April 2018, resulting in the criminal charges being dropped and an order was made to detain him in The Park Centre for Mental Health in Brisbane for treatment.[9]

  1. ^ Robertson, Joshua (24 August 2016). "French man allegedly shouted 'Allahu akbar' in fatal stabbing of British woman at Australian hostel". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Accused backpacker killer moved to secure mental health facility". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Smail Ayad remanded in custody over youth hostel stabbing". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Mother of 'amazing' backpacker killed in Australian hostel pays tribute". The Guardian. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  5. ^ SchliebS, Mark (27 August 2016). "Smail Ayad: Helmet, mask for man accused of Townsville hostel attack". The Australian. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Queensland backpacker killing: Man charged over Home Hill stabbing of Mia Ayliffe-Chung". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  7. ^ Healy, Samantha (29 October 2016). "Ayad may never face trial". Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  8. ^ Branco, Jorge (5 April 2018). "Home Hill attacker won't stand trial for killing Mia Ayliffe-Chung and Tom Jackson". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 19 November 2018.