Melbourne teacher jailed for stabbing school principal after contract termination
Consensus Summary
A Melbourne IT teacher, Kim Ramchen, 37, was jailed for 15 months on May 11, 2026, after attacking his principal, Aaron Sykes, with two knives at Keysborough Secondary College on December 2, 2025. The assault occurred during school hours, leaving Sykes with serious injuries and triggering a lockdown. Ramchen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, citing a mental health breakdown after learning his teaching contract would not be renewed. Court documents revealed Ramchen had been diagnosed with autism and depression, with prosecutors and defence lawyers acknowledging his impaired mental state as a mitigating factor. Sykes, who remains unable to return to work, suffered cuts to his neck, face, and arm. Ramchen’s sentence included a non-parole period of over eight months, with Magistrate Tim Bourke emphasizing the severity of the crime in a school environment. Both sources agree on the timeline of events, Ramchen’s mental health struggles, and the impact on the victim, though minor discrepancies exist in custody duration and procedural details.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Kim Ramchen, 37, attacked Keysborough Secondary College principal Aaron Sykes with two knives on December 2, 2025, during school hours (3pm).
- Ramchen pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury, assault with a weapon, and unlawful assault in the Dandenong Magistrates Court on May 6, 2026.
- Ramchen was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and recurrent depressive disorder with anxious distress after the attack.
- Aaron Sykes suffered injuries including a 2cm laceration to his neck, cuts to his left cheek and right forearm, and multiple abrasions/bruises; he has not returned to work since the attack.
- Ramchen claimed in a police interview that he 'mentally snapped' and became 'incredibly, unbelievably angry' with no clear explanation for his actions.
- Ramchen’s contract at Keysborough Secondary College was not renewed in September 2025, triggering a decline in his mental health and increased opioid use.
- Ramchen was sentenced to 15 months' jail on May 11, 2026, with a non-parole period of 8 months and 14 days, after serving 160 days in custody.
- The attack occurred at the Acacia campus of Keysborough Secondary College while students were present, leading to a school lockdown.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Deputy Chief Magistrate Tim Bourke granted Ramchen’s lawyers an application for summary jurisdiction, avoiding a County Court trial where penalties could have been harsher.
- Assistant Principal Matthew Sloan disarmed Ramchen during the second attack, and Ramchen was pinned down by a group of staff until police arrived.
- Ramchen’s barrister Amelia Beech argued his 155 days in custody were sufficient and he should receive a community corrections order.
- Prosecutor J.J. Jassar submitted Ramchen should receive further jail time followed by a 'lengthy' community order.
- Ramchen’s psychiatric report by Associate Professor Danny Sullivan found his mental health diagnoses were 'causally connected' to his offending and his judgment was impaired.
- The court heard Ramchen’s guilty plea entitled him to a 'significant discount' from a potential 20-month sentence, with a non-parole period of 12 months if not for the plea.
- Magistrate Bourke described the offending as 'serious' and emphasized the 'safe place' violation in a school environment.
- A school nurse described Sykes’ injuries as 'distressing' and noted his 'look of fear' during the attack in a victim impact statement.
- Ramchen’s defence lawyer stated he had 'no history of violence' before the incident despite his PhD and high academic achievements (99.95 VCE score).
- Ramchen’s marriage difficulties and painkiller addiction were highlighted as contributing factors at the time of the attack.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- Newscomau states Ramchen was in custody for 155 days before sentencing, while ABC states he had served 160 days in custody by the time of sentencing.
- Newscomau mentions Ramchen’s lawyers sought summary jurisdiction to avoid County Court, but ABC does not reference this procedural detail.
Source Articles
Teacher ‘snapped’ before principal attack: court
A secondary school IT teacher felt he had been “treated unjustly” before attacking his boss with two knives, plunging the school into lockdown, a court has been told.
Melbourne IT teacher jailed for stabbing school principal
The court heard IT teacher Kim Ramchen "snapped" and stabbed Keysborough Secondary College principal Aaron Sykes while children were still in class.
Melbourne teacher Kim Ramchen pleads guilty to stabbing principal
A Melbourne court has been told a school principal who was ambushed by a knife-wielding teacher remains too traumatised to return to work.