A man accused of stabbing two women at ANU, leaving one in a serious condition in hospital, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder.
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"No motive for the incident has been identified and police do not believe the victims knew the offender," ACT Policing said in a statement.
Alex Leonard Ophel, 24, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, wearing a grey T-shirt, tracksuit pants and thongs commonly given to people in custody.
Defence lawyer Tim Sharman initially asked the court to stand the matter down so he could ask Ophel if he wanted to apply for bail.
Mr Sharman said he was not confident the man was fit to provide instructions.
When the matter returned an hour later, the court heard the alleged offender would not be applying for conditional release.
"He understands that means he will be remanded in custody at the Alexander Maconochie Centre," Mr Sharman said.
Magistrate Glenn Theakston directed that a mental health assessment report of the alleged offender be provided to the prison.
Prosecutor Caitlin Diggins had earlier indicated a bail application would have been opposed.
Ophel was officially charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and one count of possessing an object to be used to kill.
Police alleged Ophel initially engaged a male student at the university campus on Monday afternoon by hitting him on the head with a frying pan.
That student is said to have run away before Ophel allegedly stabbed a 20-year-old female student "multiple times".
He is then accused of chasing a second 20-year-old female student and stabbing her.
Ophel allegedly punched another male student in the face.
The first female student is said to be in a serious but stable condition and the second in a stable condition.
The two male alleged victims did not require hospitalisation.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Sharman indicated possible jurisdictional issues between the Magistrates Court and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The court heard Opher was subject to "orders" from the tribunal but nothing further on the matter was said.
Ophel is set to return to court next month.
Tim Piccione
Tim is a journalist with the Canberra Times covering the ACT courts. He came to the nation's capital via the Daily Advertiser in Wagga. Contact: tim.piccione@canberratimes.com.au.
Tim is a journalist with the Canberra Times covering the ACT courts. He came to the nation's capital via the Daily Advertiser in Wagga. Contact: tim.piccione@canberratimes.com.au.
