A man will face court today over an alleged stabbing in Guyra on Sunday, and another man will face court today after allegedly stabbing a woman and stealing a motor vehicle in Quirindi on the latest in a series of violent incidents to strike the New England region over the past year.
In the first incident, officers from New England Police District were called to a home on Sole Street, Guyra, about 1.45pm on Sunday, 21 June, after reports of a stabbing. Police were told a 27-year-old man allegedly stabbed a man in his 30s in the back during an argument at the home before leaving the scene. A woman and a child were also present. The victim was taken to Armidale Hospital, treated for a laceration to his back, and later released.
Following inquiries, about 4.45pm on Monday, 22 June, officers attended a unit on Canambe Street, Armidale, where they found the 27-year-old man allegedly attempting to flee the home and jump a fence. He was arrested — despite allegedly resisting — and was allegedly found in possession of a hunting knife. Several officers suffered minor lacerations during the arrest. He was charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, hindering or resisting police, assaulting police in the execution of duty without actual bodily harm, and carrying a cutting weapon upon apprehension.
The second incident, in Quirindi, saw officers attached to Oxley Police District were called to Quirindi Hospital about 11.45am on Monday, 22 June, after a woman in her 40s presented with stab wounds.
Police were told the woman had been asleep inside her home on Breeza Street when a man allegedly repeatedly stabbed her with a knife before stealing her car. She was taken to hospital by a passerby and remains in a serious condition, being treated for a slash wound to the throat and knife wounds to the head, torso, arms and hands.
About 12.15pm, officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command located a 25-year-old man driving the stolen vehicle in Quirindi. He was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (domestic violence), being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, and taking and driving a conveyance without the owner’s consent.
Both men were refused bail and will appear before Bail Division Court 5 today, Tuesday, 23 June.
The two latest stabbing incidents come three weeks after Keith and Dianne Blessing were stabbed during a violent home invasion at their Torrington property, and two separate fatal attacks at campsites in March: one man was killed with a knife at Woolbrook, and another with an axe at Styx River.
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