Young Frenchman stabbed in neck at Belair National Park
UPDATE: An Adelaide man has been charged with attempted murder after the stabbing of a young French national on Tuesday morning at Belair National Park.
AN Adelaide man has been charged with attempted murder after the stabbing of a young French national on Tuesday morning at Belair National Park.
The victim, in his early 20s, was attacked and stabbed in the neck with what police believe was a knife after an altercation involving three men.
After the stabbing the suspect, 23, of no fixed address, left the scene and about 20 minutes later was arrested by police on a train at Belair Railway Station.
“An altercation of some kind has occurred ... it’s far too early for me to speculate as to the motives or the background behind that,” Inspector Campbell Hill said at Pines Picnic Area 2.
“This isn’t an incident where they’ve come across a stranger within the national park.
“(But) due to the early stages of the investigation we’re still yet to obtain full statements from the victim in this matter and witnesses.”
It is understood the three men — who recently become acquainted — travelled to the park together in a car and were walking down a trail before the attack.
After being stabbed in the neck, the victim and the third man made their way back to one of the main driving trails, where they were later met by emergency services.
The victim, who police believe was not chased after the attack, was treated at the scene by paramedics about 10am.
His injuries, which also include a minor laceration to the hand, are non-life threatening and he was taken to Flinders Medical Centre for further treatment. The third man was unharmed.
It is unclear how the suspect made his way to the train station after the attack but a vehicle has been seized by police.
“What we are yet to identify and again as the investigation progresses, both with the accused person and with the victim in this particular matter, we’ll get to the bottom of the movements of the accused person after the altercation has taken place,” Insp Hill said.
“At this stage the investigation is still in its infancy.
“We’re going to let the victim be treated medically and our detectives will speak to him in due course and get some details.”
The investigation has been more complicated because the victim does not speak fluent English.
The charged man is expected to face Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday.