Unanimous verdict: Mark John Walters’ taken into custody for near fatal stabbing of Gavin Thomas Greene

The family of a Mount Gambier man who nearly killed a high school friend over an alleged $50 drug debt has broken down in tears after a jury delivered their verdict.

WARNING: Contains graphic content

Standing stoic in the dock, a Mount Gambier man has been found guilty of leaving an old high school friend on death’s door after stabbing him over an alleged $50 drug debt, a court has heard.

Mark John Walters, 48, who now lives in Roxby Downs, left Gavin Thomas Greene in a pool of his own blood with his intestines hanging out after stabbing him with a three inch blade, a court has heard.

Police and paramedics were called to a group of units at the corner of Queens Ave and Wehl St North, Mount Gambier, just before 5pm on Saturday, January 2, 2021.

Prosecutor Robert Kane told the Mount Gambier District Court the victim had essentially been invited to fight — before Mr Greene was stabbed.

Mr Kane said Mr Walters’ sent several aggressive texts the day before the stabbing, with Mr Walters telling Mr Greene “come on you f****** coward, come say s*** to my face”.

Mark John Walters was found guilty one count of aggravated causing serious harm with intent to cause serious harm. Picture: Supplied

During the fight Mr Walters forehead and torso became spattered with blood — believing the blood belonged to Mr Walters, Mr Greene walked away — telling Mr Walters he should “get checked”, the court heard.

However, after reaching the unit car park, Mr Greene collapsed to the ground and realised he was the one who was bleeding, Mr Kane said.

With his intestines hanging out, blood spurting from his neck the victim and lying in a pool of his own blood, Mr Greene would float in and out of consciousness, the court heard.

Mr Greene said he lost about a foot of his bowel following surgery after the stabbing and was left with serious scarring and PTSD.

The jury heard from a police officer who was first on scene who said Mr Walters flagged them down and told officers “I did it — I did it in self defence” as police exited their vehicle.

An audio recording of Mr Walters’ triple-0 call was played to the Mount Gambier District Court, as well as police body camera footage, which showed Mr Walters’ spattered in blood.

During the call to emergency services Mr Walters can be heard telling the operator that he “f***** up”.

“I don’t know what I did — I’m sorry,” Mr Walters said.

Mr Greene told the court roughly 10 days before he was stabbed, he had threatened that he was going to come around and” kick the s**t out” of Mr Walters if he was not repaid.

Mark John Walters, who was supported by his father, faced trial in the Mount Gambier District Court for stabbing a man he's known since high school over an alleged $50 drug debt. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Mr Walters was found guilty of one count of aggravated causing serious harm with intent to cause serious harm.

He was originally charged with attempted murder, which was dropped at an earlier appearance — before the trial kicked off.

During his closing address Nick Vadasz for Mr Walters, said everyone had a right to defend themselves.

“Put yourself in Mr Walters’ shoes — this fellow Greene, bigger than you, six foot two, trained in self defence — a trained security officer for 15 years,” he said.

“(And) he tells you that he’s going to come around and bash you.”

The jury spent just over an hour deliberating before reaching their unanimous verdict.

Mr Vadaasz made an unsuccessful bid to see Mr Walters remain on his continuing bail with Judge Geraldine Davison telling the court Mr Walters had been convicted of a very serious charge.

Though Mr Walters did not react outwardly members of Mr Walters’ family sitting in the gallery broke down in tears over the verdict.

Outside of court they declined to comment over the judgement.