Woman poisoned flatmate's milk and yoghurt, slashed tyres over cat argument

Te Raukura Anahera Alexander pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to injure using a noxious substance and one count each of common assault and wilful damage. Photo / news.com.au

A Brisbane woman spiked her flatmate's food and drink with liquid Mortein because she was upset with how her pet cat was treated, a court has been told.

Te Raukura Anahera Alexander was so enraged over an argument with her flatmates about the animal she was taking care of that she attacked one before slashing the tyres of a car the next day.

After police confronted her, she confessed to putting a small amount of the liquid insecticide in milk and a yoghurt container in the fridge.

Neither of her flatmates knew the items had been poisoned, the Brisbane District Court was told.

Alexander, 20, was supported by her partner in court on Thursday as she pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to injure using a noxious substance and one count each of common assault and wilful damage.

The court was told she lived with her male and female flatmates in Paddington when the shocking acts unfolded.

On February 22 last year, Alexander got into an argument with them over the treatment of her pet cat after one flatmate was scratched by the animal.

Alexander threatened the female flatmate and scratched her knuckle during a brief struggle, crown prosecutor James Coughlan submitted.

Police were called and Alexander was heard complaining that she wanted to "kill" her female flatmate, the court was told.

The next day, the male flatmate woke to find two tyres on his car slashed and deflated.

He left to log a police complaint but upon returning, he found the other two tyres slashed.

Te Raukura Anahera Alexander avoided conviction. Photo / news.com.au

Alexander made admissions over the attack and to damaging the tyres, before telling police she had placed a small amount of the liquid Mortein in a milk carton and yoghurt container belonging to her flatmates.

"You told another housemate you hoped the complainants would die … you said you were very upset with the complainants and it escalated," Judge Anthony Rafter said.

The court was told Alexander only put a minimal amount of poison in the food and drink and there was "no suggestion" consuming them could have serious consequences.

The amount of liquid Mortein in the yoghurt was so small it could not be identified.

Alexander's defence barrister said his client had the support of her partner and was seeking ongoing treatment for her mental health issues.

He argued the young woman - who had no criminal convictions or history - had recently obtained full-time employment.

As a sign of remorse, Alexander had offered to pay compensation for the damaged tyres.

Judge Rafter did not record any convictions but placed Alexander on a two-year probation order.

She was also ordered to pay A$600 in compensation for the tyres.