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An Alphington man accused of the attempted murder of a Melbourne taxi driver says he cannot recall the incident and does not know why he had been charged, his lawyer told a magistrate this morning.
Parish Charles, 45, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court over the stabbing of Reservoir taxi driver Jalvinder Singh in Clifton Hill yesterday.
He was remanded on seven charges including attempted murder, intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, assault and car theft.
Magistrate Lance Martin ordered Charles to reappear for a committal hearing on July 23.
Charles' lawyer, Rob Melasecca, told the court his client had contracted HIV 20 years ago and had recently begun taking new medication.
Mr Melasecca said Charles had no memory of yesterday morning's events.
His client had no no criminal history and was horrified about what had occurred.
"He's very much someone who is out of his comfort zone ... does not know where he is, does not know why he's (here)."
Mr Melasecca said Charles had been planning to attend The Alfred hospital for treatment when he was arrested.
He said his client needed help otherwise there would be "two victims".
"His mental health is a very big question mark," Mr Melasecca said.
The cab driver injured in the attack was in an induced coma, he said.
Charles said he had been suffering severe head pain, which he compared with an "electric shock".
Mr Melasecca asked that Charles receive blood tests while in custody, as he was due to attend an appointment at The Alfred today to be tested for meningitis.
Mr Martin ordered that Charles be remanded at Melbourne Assessment Prison, where he would be assessed to see whether he should be transferred to St Vincent's for more intensive treatment.
Outside court, Mr Melasecca said police would allege that Charles caught a cab outside The Alfred hospital after driving there - but not entering the hospital - in his partner's car.
Police would allege that Charles attacked the taxi driver while they were travelling in the vicinity of Wellington Street, Clifton Hill.
He then dumped Mr Singh in the street and took control of the car before crashing it into a power pole, police would allege.
Mr Melasecca said his client did not dispute the police version of events, but said his client's state of mind would be key to the case.
"He's in a terrible condition," he said. "This is not going to be a case about anything other than about his intent and his state of mind."
Mr Singh, a 23-year-old Indian student, is in the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
A hospital spokesman today said the man's condition had improved, and he was now in a serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit.
