Albany man jailed for punching, kicking and spitting at Albany Health Campus staff and being armed at servo

An Albany man, who while an inpatient at Albany Health Campus’ mental health ward, assaulted seven hospital staff, including punching two doctors in the face and spitting in a nurse’s eye, has been jailed. Kiarno Terry Williams, 26, appeared before Albany Magistrates Court on March 5 via video link from Hakea Prison and pleaded guilty to eight charges, including seven counts of assaulting a hospital worker. Police prosecutor Sgt Gary Simpson told the court Williams was admitted to Albany Health Campus’ mental health ward as an involuntary inpatient and assaulted staff on November 29, December 1 and December 2, 2025. On all three dates, he threatened staff and demonstrated “aggressive” behaviour, leading to staff isolating him before attempting to restrain and sedate him. As staff attempted to restrain him, he punched two doctors in the face, punched and kicked four other staff members, and spat in a nurse’s eye. He was also charged with being armed in a way that may cause fear, which Sgt Simpson said stemmed from an incident on December 17 when Williams, armed with a knife, approached a Department of Fire and Emergency Services officer at a fuel station in Albany as the firefighting crew refuelled their vehicles. The officer quickly apprehended him, pinning him to the ground to disarm him and calling police. Magistrate Rosemarie Myers asked defence counsel Kyah Langdon whether Williams’ mental health had been the most significant contributor to his offending. Ms Langdon confirmed that while Williams had been diagnosed with both bipolar and schizoaffective disorder, and his mental health had declined drastically, his consumption of illicit substances and not taking his prescribed medication were far more significant factors. Ms Langdon said Williams’ mental health had spiralled rapidly after the death of a close family member, saying he was in a “blackout state” when he was admitted to hospital and did not remember much of his time there, including many of the assaults. She said Williams had previously been treated by some of the staff for his mental health, and usually maintained a good relationship with them. Ms Langdon said Williams was armed at the service station shortly after he was discharged from Albany Health Campus, and was still experiencing psychosis and not in a good frame of mind. As demonstrated by CCTV footage of the incident played for the court, Ms Langdon said Williams had not been waving the knife or acting aggressively, but accepted his appearance with a knife in hand could have caused fear. Ms Myers said assaults on hospital workers were particularly serious, as health workers “put themselves at great risk” to treat their patients, especially when they were uncooperative. Williams was jailed for nine months, backdated to December 17, and was made eligible for parole.