Deng Atem Machok allegedly grazed victim’s heart in Adelaide retaliation stabbing, court told

A city stabbing accused narrowly missed the victim’s heart in an apparent retaliation attack after he was previously stabbed, a court has heard.

A teenager charged with attempted murder over a city stabbing which “grazed” the victim’s heart was acting in retaliation because he had been previously stabbed in a separate incident, a court has heard.

Deng Atem Machok, 19, of Kilburn was allegedly captured on CCTV twice thrusting a knife into the chest of a shirtless 22-year-old Lightsview man in an early morning attack on Clubhouse Lane, just off Hindley St.

He appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday seeking release on bail after he was arrested last week.

Opposing bail, police prosecuting solicitor Barnaby Grant said Mr Machok was among one of two groups of men who clashed about 12.50am on January 30.

He said a member of Mr Machok’s group removed his shirt in preparation to fight the victim.

“The accused then approaches both of them and at 12.52am the accused can be seen thrusting his right hand quickly into the victim before dashing back and taking a look at him,” he said.

Emergency services found the victim on nearby Blyth St suffering life threatening injuries and rushed him to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition.

“The male underwent heart surgery. At least one of the knife thrusts apparently grazed the side of one of the ventricles of his heart,” Mr Grant said.

Mr Grant said the victim, who had no recollection of the incident, had since been able to provide a statement to police.

A 22-year-old man was stabbed on Blyth St overnight. Picture: Renato Castello

He told the court the attack was an “apparent retaliation” after Mr Machok was himself stabbed in a separate incident in January.

“It’s believed that this was, in some way, in retaliation for that,” he said.

“Although it’s also my understanding that it’s a case of mistaken identity as to the victim of this matter. All of that is subject to further investigation.”

The court heard the weapon allegedly used in the attack had not been found.

Police previously revealed Machok’s arrest was part of Operation Meld – a task force created to combat a spate of stabbings allegedly involving feuding youth gangs.

Patrick Deegan, for Mr Machok said the allegations against his client were denied and would be contested.

He said a still image taken from CCTV footage and provided by police was “not sufficient so as to identify the accused”.

He said his client suffered a severe intellectual disability which would place him at significant risk in custody and asked the court release his client to live on home detention bail.

Chief Magistrate Judge Mary-Louise Hribal refused bail due to the serious nature of the allegations and safety of the community.

Mr Machok returns to court in May.