Australian woman charged with lacing colleague's curry with snail poison - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmp3gnep35gko)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmp3gnep35gko)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmp3gnep35gko)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmp3gnep35gko)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (cmp3gnep35gko@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fcmp3gnep35gko)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cmp3gnep35gko@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (cmp3gnep35gko@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cmp3gnep35gko@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (cmp3gnep35gko@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (cmp3gnep35gko@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/africa) Africa   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/asia) Asia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/australia) Australia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe) Europe   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/latin_america) Latin America   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east) Middle East           Australian woman charged with lacing colleague's curry with snail poison      (A stock photo of curry, rice and papadams)    Image source,  Getty Images  Image caption,  A stock photo of curry       By Tiffanie Turnbull Sydney      Published 15 October 2026           An Australian woman has been charged after allegedly lacing a colleague's curry with snail poison.  Police in the state of Western Australia say the alleged victim made a meal for her co-workers in February, which they shared at morning tea. But when the 58-year-old returned to eat leftovers at lunch, she noticed bright green granules in the food and that her tongue felt numb after tasting it.  The accused - who was in a relationship with the alleged victim - has been charged with endangering the life, health or safety of another person after a months-long investigation, and will face court on 5 November. Police allege the 43-year-old woman - who hasn't been named - visited a chemical storage shed before returning to the staffroom where the curry was kept. After tasting it, the alleged victim handed the meal over to detectives, who identified the substance as snail pellets containing metaldehyde, a poisonous substance. Commissioner Col Blanch told reporters the poison can cause serious injury or death. "We're just very thankful that the person who tasted the curry was aware of something that wasn't quite right," he said, according to the Seven Network.     Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/australia) Australia  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cl0zrr2xrl7t) Western Australia           (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         1:03 Man faked illness trying to keep five jobs. 00:01:03, play video Man faked illness trying to keep five jobs    (Civil servant Kashim Chowdhury, 54, arrives at Southwark Crown Court, London, where he is to stand trial accused of fraud by allegedly holding multiple full-time Government jobs at the same time.)           1:04 Do you really need protein powder to build muscle? 00:01:04, play video Do you really need protein powder to build muscle?    (Man in vest drinking from an orange cup)           0:27 The moment well-wishers surprised Meghan with flowers. 00:00:27, play video The moment well-wishers surprised Meghan with flowers    (Meghan Markle is wearing a long burgundy coat. Her hair is gelled back into a ponytail. She has a surprised expression.)           0:58 Why Sally Rooney's books won't be sold in UK any more. 00:00:58, play video Why Sally Rooney's books won't be sold in UK any more    (Sally Rooney)           1:54 Emotional TV plea for cancer research leads to meeting with PM. 00:01:54, play video Emotional TV plea for cancer research leads to meeting with PM    (Archie Goodburn looks emotionally at the camera wearing a white shirt.)           1:31 Inquest reveals more details after man killed by tiger. 00:01:31, play video Inquest reveals more details after man killed by tiger    (William Chapman in front of a waterfall with a blue top on, smiling at the camera.)           1:18 Russell Brand accuser says he raped her in hotel room after a show. 00:01:18, play video Russell Brand accuser says he raped her in hotel room after a show    (A close-up of Russell Brand with tied-back grey hair and a grey beard. He's wearing sunglasses.)           1:47 Reform UK councillors filmed making racist remarks. 00:01:47, play video Reform UK councillors filmed making racist remarks    (A blue Reform UK rosette on the lapel of a grey jacket.)           1:22 Ex MP jailed for 15 years for child sex offences. 00:01:22, play video Ex MP jailed for 15 years for child sex offences    (Jeffrey Donaldson has short greying hair. He is wearing glasses, a pink shirt and navy jacket, with a red-patterned tie.)           1:01 Why is Kelly Clarkson feuding with this store? 00:01:01, play video Why is Kelly Clarkson feuding with this store?    (Kelly Clarkson has long brown hair and is wearing a blue shirt with yellow spots.)           1:29 How I uncovered man who allegedly scammed £50,000 from friends. 00:01:29, play video How I uncovered man who allegedly scammed £50,000 from friends    (Matthew Carroll studied drama at Sheffield Hallam University and later worked as a chef in pubs)           1:10 Why did Trump ask the US ambassador to Greece to resign? 00:01:10, play video Why did Trump ask the US ambassador to Greece to resign?    (Kimberly Guilfoyle has long dark hair and is wearing a blue top.)           0:50 More than 30 dead after school roof collapse in Pakistan. 00:00:50, play video More than 30 dead after school roof collapse in Pakistan    (People walking around a mound of debris in the middle of a building.)           1:32 Ghosts: 'The movie feels bigger and better than the series' 00:01:32, play video Ghosts: 'The movie feels bigger and better than the series'    (A woman has afro hair done in a luxurious style. She is dressed as an old-fashioned noblewoman, but wearing a modern coat with a fluffy lining over the top.)           0:56 Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence over Facebook comment. 00:00:56, play video Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence over Facebook comment    (A man with short dark hair wearing a dark suit with a red tie.)           1:11 What's going on with Ukraine's access to SpaceX's Starlink? 00:01:11, play video What's going on with Ukraine's access to SpaceX's Starlink?    (Dan Johnson looks to camera with the rubble of an apartment block behind him.)           1:39 No public outcome in hundreds of IDF investigations, BBC Verify finds. 00:01:39, play video No public outcome in hundreds of IDF investigations, BBC Verify finds    (Graphicised image of military  tanks)           1:23 Everything you need to know after Pope Leo's surgery. 00:01:23, play video Everything you need to know after Pope Leo's surgery    (Pope Leo has short white hair, is wearing glasses and red, white and black and gold vestments.)           0:48 Would you go to a club night at the gym? 00:00:48, play video Would you go to a club night at the gym?    (A DJ with a bushy black beard is talking to a reporter. He is wearing a black baseball cap and red headphones.)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cw62jgzdpng2t)     Live.    Three children and one teacher killed after 16-year-old opens fire at Oregon primary school     3566 viewing 3.6k viewing             (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6wyrnmgzn01o) Bus hits train stopped on French side of Channel Tunnel, with 19 injured      Published 2 hours ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crx23qlnj27qo) Trump calls off livestream of Fort Hood attacker's execution by firing squad     Published 7 hours ago                More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw5yn83m8gypo) Same-day test helps doctors detect hidden infections in critically ill children      (Willow sits in a chair in hospital cuddling a soft toy. She has a tube in her nose and is smiling)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6vg0dx2y1j5o) Healey's 'tax raid on banks' and Brand 'topless monster'      (A composite of the front pages of the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Star on 16 October 2026.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq4g17j1ej95o) Sparks fly at the Celebrity Traitors round table and a 'terrifying' death march      (Death marchers in skull masks and black robes)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr86zjee80p9o) Your child wasn't invited to the party - here's how to handle the disappointment      (A little girl aged five to seven wearing a light blue T-shirt, sitting at a desk drawing with a green pencil and resting her head on one hand)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8zxlyg965r3o) Are student protests being manipulated ahead of France's presidential election?      (A masked protester holds a French flag as French police use water canon amid clashes during a demonstration by French high school and university students in Paris)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c36lk280kd1o) I find it quite demoralising in store - why I do all my shopping online      (Jess is wearing a bright pink dress at a formal event. She has blonde wavy hair)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gr85dl78y4o) Weekly quiz: Which star is lending his voice to Gromit?      (Gromit looks surprised while eating a bowl of cereal and reading Paradise Lost by John Stilton)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvj6jznp9ww9o) 'We got penalised for saying 'pregnancy' on Instagram'      (Irene Breen is pictured smiling. She has a dark brown bob haircut and is wearing a red shirt. She's sitting against stacks of boxes in a warehouse)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsletters/zgmn46f) US Politics Unspun: Cut through the noise with Anthony Zurcher's newsletter      (A cut of of Anthony Zurcher wearing a suit and tie in front of a red, black, grey and blue graphic background featuring the US Capitol Building)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0032cxm?at_mid=MCExQlPokr&at_campaign=Here_For_The_History_Why_are_we_obsessed_with_work&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002z05r&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Here_For_The_History_Why_are_we_obsessed_with_work&at_bbc_team=BBC) The long shift behind our modern obsession with hard work        (Here For The History)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct98c0?at_mid=fajphwZHyK&at_campaign=Witness_History_How_rats_were_trained_to_clear_landmines&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p004t1hd&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Witness_History_How_rats_were_trained_to_clear_landmines&at_bbc_team=BBC) How rats were trained to clear landmines        (Witness History: How rats were trained to clear landmines)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000gpqj?at_mid=nWAbpcne7d&at_campaign=The_Nest&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m000gpql&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Nest&at_bbc_team=BBC) Dark, gripping surrogacy thriller starring Martin Compston        (The Nest)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8swp?at_mid=p3Ttqxnilj&at_campaign=The_Food_Chain_Travelling_for_Work&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p028z2z0&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Food_Chain_Travelling_for_Work&at_bbc_team=BBC) How to maintain healthy eating habits when travelling for work        ()            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6vg0dx2y1j5o) Healey's 'tax raid on banks' and Brand 'topless monster'       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6wyrnmgzn01o) Bus hits train stopped on French side of Channel Tunnel, with 19 injured        3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crx23qlnj27qo) Trump calls off livestream of Fort Hood attacker's execution by firing squad       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq4g17j1ej95o) Sparks fly at the Celebrity Traitors round table and a 'terrifying' death march       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmpqgepejr2ro) Porn showing choking or incest to be banned from early November, government says       6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8jzgl7zz9po) London housing project wins top architecture award       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c32l4k2xdvrzo) Banks say Healey is planning Budget tax raid on their profits       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw5yn83m8gypo) Same-day test helps doctors detect hidden infections in critically ill children       9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmn06xr871g1o) Professor shares 'most important thing to do' when someone is grieving       10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cry83dyddv6no) Trans people should use hospital spaces according to biological sex, NHS England says               BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()