In brief
A 58‑year‑old Australian woman has been charged after allegedly tampering with a colleague’s curry using snail poison. The incident occurred after the victim, who had cooked the curry for coworkers, found bright green granules and numbness on the tongue when eating leftovers. Police allege the accused, 43, visited a chemical shed before returning the dish and was identified as the source of metaldehyde snail pellets, a toxic substance. Commissioner Col Blanch warned that metaldehyde can cause serious injury or death, and the accused faces court on 5 November.
An Australian woman has been charged after allegedly lacing a colleague’s curry with snail poison.
Police in Western Australia say the victim, who prepared a curry for coworkers in February, shared it at morning tea and later noticed bright green granules after eating leftovers at lunch.
The accused, 43‑years‑old and in a relationship with the victim, allegedly visited a chemical storage shed before returning to the staffroom where the curry was kept.
After tasting the dish, the victim reported numbness to her tongue and passed the meal to detectives, who identified the substance as metaldehyde snail pellets, a dangerous toxin.
Commissioner Col Blanch warned that metaldehyde can cause serious injury or death, and said the case is under investigation ahead of the accused’s court appearance on 5 November.
