Australian woman charged over alleged snail poison in colleague’s curry

An Australian woman has been charged after allegedly poisoning a colleague’s curry with snail pellets containing a toxic chemical in Western Australia, BBC has reported.

She is due to appear in court on 5 November.

The 43-year-old woman, who has not been named, was charged with endangering the life, health or safety of another person following a months-long police investigation. 

Police allege the woman, who was in a relationship with the alleged victim, visited a chemical storage shed before returning to a staffroom where the curry had been kept.

The incident reportedly occurred in February, when the 58-year-old victim prepared a meal for colleagues to share during morning tea.

When she returned to eat the leftovers at lunch, she noticed bright green granules in the food. After tasting the curry, she also noticed that her tongue felt numb.

The woman handed the meal to detectives, who identified the substance as snail pellets containing metaldehyde, a poisonous chemical.

Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch told reporters the poison could cause serious injury or death.

"We're just very thankful that the person who tasted the curry was aware of something that wasn't quite right," he said, according to the Seven Network.