Kim Ramchen, a 38-year-old teacher from Mulgrave, has pleaded guilty to stabbing the principal of Keysborough Secondary College, Aaron Sykes, following the non-renewal of his contract last December.
Court Proceedings and Plea Deal
In Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, Ramchen appeared via videolink from custody and entered guilty pleas to intentionally causing injury to Sykes, assault with a weapon, and unlawful assault on assistant principal Matt Sloan. The plea agreement drops several charges, capping his sentence at five years and keeping the case out of the higher County Court.
Details of the Assault
At around 3 p.m., Ramchen stormed out of his classroom and entered Sykes’ office armed with a small kitchen knife. Crown prosecutor JJ Jassar described how Ramchen approached the desk, pointed the knife at Sykes’ neck, and inflicted a slash to the face and a stab to the forearm. Sykes pleaded for his life while trying to fend off the blade, as staff heard cries of ‘Help, help, get off me. Someone help.’
Witnesses, including a teacher who saw Ramchen swinging the knife, rushed to intervene. Assistant principal Matt Sloan helped restrain him. Ramchen then broke free, retrieved a larger chef’s knife from the kitchen, and launched a second attack, punching Sykes and targeting his face and neck.
Staff subdued Ramchen after a struggle, with one yelling, ‘Stop, Kim, stop.’
Injuries Sustained
Sykes suffered a 2cm gash under his jawline, cuts to his cheek, lip, and forearm, plus bruises on his back. He received hospital treatment for physical injuries and shock, along with ongoing mental trauma.
Ramchen’s Police Interview
In a recorded interview, Ramchen admitted to the first attack, stating, ‘I mentally snapped, and my blood just went to my head, and I just became incredibly angry and emotional, incredibly, unbelievably angry.’ He claimed his intent was to ‘incapacitate the principal’ and acted on impulse. For the second attack, he reported limited memory, attributing it to overwhelming anger.
Defense on Mental Health
Barrister Amelia Beech described the assault as spontaneous amid a severe mental health crisis, supported by expert evidence. She highlighted Ramchen’s history of mental health issues, dysfunctional childhood, parenting stresses, and losses including his career, marriage, child relationship, reputation, and finances.
Beech argued for a community corrections order over custody, noting, ‘He is simply not going to improve in the custodial environment as he needs psychiatric care, psychological care, and support.’ She proposed a short jail term followed by supervised release for community protection.
The Crown countered that Ramchen shows no remorse, which could hinder rehabilitation, and seeks more time in custody before any community order.
Family Background
Ramchen’s mother, former The Price is Right model Jacqueline Ramchen, disappeared on April 10, 1992, after dropping her children at school. Her husband, Slavik Ramchen, faced murder charges but was released in 2002 when a magistrate deemed her possibly alive. Slavik died of cancer months later.
Former Victoria Police detective Charlie Bezzina, who investigated, believed Slavik was responsible, stating, ‘We get your garden variety, domestic murder, that he got away with.’ Bezzina cited a strong circumstantial case, no body or DNA, and Jacqueline’s close family ties as evidence she would not abandon them. Her parents died without closure.
Sentencing is scheduled for Monday.
