Melbourne woman accused of attempting to kill three children by driving into creek

A Melbourne mother was allegedly attempting to kill her three children when she drove the family car into a creek, a court has been told.

The woman, who cannot be named, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday where she entered not guilty pleas to a series of charges including attempted murder and reckless conduct endangering life.

Police allege the woman, aged in her 30s, deliberately drove into a creek earlier this year just three weeks after the birth of her third child.

Outlining the police case, detective senior constable Amy Tuck said it was alleged the woman sent her husband out to look for a new dining table at IKEA, suggesting she “wanted to look after all the kids that afternoon”.

Shortly after he left, the court was told, the woman allegedly got her children, all aged under 12, into her car, saying they were going to go for a drive to settle the baby.

Constable Tuck said they returned home shortly before midday, with the woman then calling her eldest upstairs to take a bath.

It’s alleged the woman then attempted to push the boy down in the water but he used his legs to struggle and avoid being submerged.

The court was told the woman then allegedly got her children back into the car and did not respond to calls or text messages from her husband who was sending pictures of dining tables.

Shortly before 12.30pm it’s alleged the woman drove at “full speed” off a boat ramp into a Melbourne creek.

Constable Tuck said the woman allegedly opened her door as the vehicle was starting to submerge and instructed her two eldest to get out of the car.

It’s alleged the woman then “pushed” into her middle child’s back, causing them to be submerged for a period of time.

The court was told she then allegedly instructed the children back into the car and attempted to reverse out of the creek.

Constable Tuck said witnesses called triple-0 after seeing the vehicle and hearing children screaming before entering the water and carrying all three children to the shore.

When police arrived, it’s alleged the woman said she was “just like taking them for a drive” and “it was just an accident, it’s just slippy”.