Former child soldier Yol Bol Yol alleges Prospect stabbing was self-defence

A former child soldier accused of stabbing a man in his own home has faced court for the first time on attempted murder charges.

A former child soldier allegedly stabbed a 40-year-old man in his Prospect home out of self-defence after the pair had an argument about an interstate job offer, a court has heard.

Yol Bol Yol, 40, applied for bail at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, appearing via video link from custody charged with attempted murder.

The court heard Mr Yol – a fly-in fly-out welder – was in an altercation with the Prospect man on Friday, when the victim allegedly came at the defendant with a knife.

“When interviewed by police, he said that there was an argument. The argument was about the defendant telling the complainant he was moving to WA to accept the job offer,” prosecution said.

Yol Bol Yol, 40, applied for bail at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

He has been charged with attempted murder. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

“The defendant says in his interview that the complainant grabbed a knife and the defendant tried to stop him and as a result, the defendant has a cut wound on his hand.

“The defendant says that he then stabbed the complainant out of self defence but that he only stabbed him once and then he left the premises thereafter.”

However, the prosecution said that an examination of the victim revealed seven stab wounds.

Police were called to a Charles St home late on Friday and found the victim on the floor outside of the premises.

The man was rushed to hospital with “life-threatening injuries” and on Saturday remained in a serious but stable condition.

Mr Yol, also of Prospect, handed himself in to the Holden Hill Police Station on Saturday morning.

Counsel for Mr Yol argued there were “special circumstances” that justified his release on bail.

She said the 40-year-old acted in self defence after the “alleged victim came at my client with a knife”.

“My instructions are that the alleged victim continued to come at my client with that knife,” she said.

Counsel added that South Sudan-born Mr Yol had a difficult childhood where he watched his father be murdered in front of him at a young age and was a child soldier.

She also said Mr Yol’s fly-in fly-out work supported his mother, partner and three children and he feared that being remanded for a lengthy period would cost him his job.

“Therefore his mother, partner and children all lose their main source of income,” she said.

Prosecution opposed all forms of bail, citing a dated criminal history, the seriousness of the offending and the need to protect the victim.

She also argued Mr Yol was a flight risk.

Magistrate Alison Adair said she was prepared to order a home detention report but had yet to make a determination on any special circumstances that would enable the court to consider whether bail should be granted.

The matter will return to court later this week.