Paul Andrew Hart: Man faces court after ten people sent to hospital sprayed with ‘substance’ at Bunnings

A man who allegedly sprayed a substance inside a Northam Bunnings, which left ten people in hospital, used a “chilli and alcohol extract”, a court has heard. Paul Andrew Hart is charged with 11 counts of causing poison to be administered, one count of creating false belief and one count of possessing a controlled weapon. The 51-year-old from Kellerberrin appeared before Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday and did not speak other than to confirm he understood his charges. His legal representation said he was not instructed to make a bail application for Mr Hart. Police allege the events played out at around 2:30 pm on Thursday when they say two people entered the store, and one of them sprayed an “unknown substance” in the vicinity of several customers and staff. That unknown substance was on Saturday confirmed to be a “chilli and alcohol extract” during court proceedings. WA Police say several people suffered a “burning sensation to their eyes, nose and throats” following the incident. A police spokesperson confirmed to The West Australian on Saturday that while two people were initially taken into custody, only Mr Hart had been charged. A St John spokeswoman confirmed on Friday that ten people — which consisted of seven women and two teenage girls— were rushed to Northam Regional Hospital as a result of the incident. The women were aged between 20 and 60 years old, while paramedics also transported one man in his 20s to hospital following the ordeal. All of their injuries were reported as non-life threatening. Mr Hart will next appear before Northam Magistrates Court via video link on April 29.