Woman charged after allegedly poisoning colleague’s curry lunch with snail pellets
News Source
•Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:47:40 GMT
📰 What Happened
A 43-year-old woman in Perth has been charged after allegedly poisoning a co-worker's lunch with snail pellets. Police say a 58-year-old woman brought a container of curry to share at a workplace in Perth's southern suburbs in February. It was eaten without problems during a morning tea break. Later, the younger woman allegedly went to a chemical storage shed and then into the staff lunch room where the food was kept. At lunchtime, the older woman found bright green granules in her curry. After tasting a little, she felt numbness on her tongue. Detectives arrested the 43-year-old last week.
🔍 The Backstory
The pellets contain metaldehyde, a substance that is poisonous to people. Police say the two women had been in a personal relationship, which may help explain the alleged motive. Sharing food at work is a common and trusted routine, which is part of why a case like this shocks people. West Australian police announced the charge on Thursday, and the case is expected to go through the courts.
🎯 Why It Matters
The case is a reminder that tampering with someone's food can be treated as a serious crime. It also shows how quickly a trusted, everyday situation can turn dangerous, and why workplaces take food safety and security seriously. The accused has not yet had the chance to answer the charges in court, and everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
A 43-year-old woman in Perth has been charged after allegedly poisoning a co-worker's lunch with snail pellets. Police say a 58-year-old woman brought a container of curry to share at a workplace in Perth's southern suburbs in February. It was eaten without problems during a morning tea break. Later, the younger woman allegedly went to a chemical storage shed and then into the staff lunch room where the food was kept. At lunchtime, the older woman found bright green granules in her curry. After tasting a little, she felt numbness on her tongue. Detectives arrested the 43-year-old last week.
The pellets contain metaldehyde, a substance that is poisonous to people. Police say the two women had been in a personal relationship, which may help explain the alleged motive. Sharing food at work is a common and trusted routine, which is part of why a case like this shocks people. West Australian police announced the charge on Thursday, and the case is expected to go through the courts.
The case is a reminder that tampering with someone's food can be treated as a serious crime. It also shows how quickly a trusted, everyday situation can turn dangerous, and why workplaces take food safety and security seriously. The accused has not yet had the chance to answer the charges in court, and everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.