Teacher pleads guilty to stabbing school principal

A 37-year-old IT teacher at Keysborough Secondary College pleaded guilty in Dandenong Magistrates Court on Wednesday to charges of intentionally causing injury, assault with a weapon, and unlawful assault after stabbing the school's principal in a frenzied attack last December.

Kim Ramchen armed himself with a 10-centimeter knife from a staff kitchen on December 2 and entered principal Aaron Sykes' office, where Sykes was alone. Prosecutor J.J. Jassar told the court Ramchen held the blade to Sykes' throat and aimed for his neck. The two struggled to the ground, with Sykes yelling, "I didn't do anything." Staff members, including teacher Emma Pascoe from a nearby room, rushed in after hearing screams and saw Ramchen standing over Sykes, swinging the knife.

Assistant principal Matthew Sloan and others pulled Ramchen away and dragged him into the hallway, but he broke free, returned to the kitchen, and retrieved a larger chef's knife. The school went into lockdown as emergency services were called. Ramchen then stormed back, punched Sykes, and attempted to stab him again before being tackled and subdued by several staff members, including Sloan. Sykes, covered in blood, sought help...