A teacher who allegedly stabbed a principal in Melbourne’s southeast was told his contract would not be renewed, a court has heard.
Kim Ramchen, 37, was charged after allegedly attacking 43-year-old Keysborough Secondary College principal Aaron Sykes during an altercation at the school’s Acacia campus on Tuesday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Teacher stabs principal after contract ends.
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Ramchen faced the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where it was heard he allegedly launched at Sykes twice, prompting other staff members to intervene.
Police allege the IT teacher had been working at the school for two years and had been informed his contract would not be renewed for 2026.
‘Never been so angry’ After finishing his final class at 3pm on Tuesday, the court was told Ramchen allegedly walked into Sykes’ office armed with a four-inch (10cm) knife taken from a staff kitchen drawer.
The court heard he then allegedly stabbed the principal repeatedly in the forearm and held the knife to his throat.
IT teacher Kim Ramchen stabbed principal Aaron Sykes twice with different knives. Credit: 7NEWS The court heard assistant principal Matthew Sloan rushed in after hearing a scream and saw Ramchen kneeling on top of Sykes.
Sloan allegedly grabbed Ramchen’s wrist and pulled him off, causing him to drop the knife and flee the room.
As the school went into lockdown, Ramchen allegedly grabbed a second kitchen knife — a 12-inch (30cm) blade — and waved it in Sykes’ face.
He was eventually tackled to the ground after several teachers wrestled with him and pinned him down.
The court heard his fingers were cut as the blade was forced from his hand.
He was restrained until police arrived.
Ramchen’s lawyer, Abbie Roodenburg, told the court her client had gone to the principal’s office to discuss his contract but “snapped” when the door was slammed in his face.
Ramchen’s fingers were cut as the blade was forced from his hand. Credit: 7NEWS Sergeant Christopher Marlow said Ramchen made “full admissions” to retrieving the knives and carrying out the alleged stabbing.
He allegedly told police he could not control his emotions and wanted to “completely incapacitate the principal”.
“I’ve never been so angry in my life,” he allegedly said.
Ramchen has been charged with multiple offences, including recklessly engaging in conduct that placed a person in danger of serious injury and assault with a weapon.
He was refused bail over what the court heard was “erratic” behaviour and will return to court on January 6.
Sykes suffered cuts to his lip and forearm but has since been released from hospital.
No prior criminal history The court heard Ramchen did not have a criminal history.
Kim Ramchen (left) has been charged over the stabbing of principal Aaron Sykes (right) at Keysborough Secondary College. Credit: 7NEWS Roodenburg told the court her client was unable to explain his actions.
“He said it was like a tidal wave of emotion coming over him that he must have lost control of his faculties and he can’t really describe it,” she said.
“He says he’s never experienced anything like that before.”
His brother, Lev Ramchen, said he was shocked by the allegations.
The court heard Ramchen is a highly educated and intelligent man, achieving a perfect ENTER score of 99.95 in Year 12.
He was described as quiet and withdrawn, and is the financial provider for his wife and three-year-old son.
Family name in court before Lev became his guardian after their mother, TV model Jacqui Ramchen, disappeared on April 10, 1992.
Their father, Slavik, was charged with her murder a decade later, but the charge was dropped due to insufficient evidence before his death from cancer.
TV model Jacqui Ramchen, disappeared on April 10, 1992. Credit: Facebook
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