Man charged with stabbing mother’s partner at Tea Tree Gully amid effort to get off drugs

A man was cooking dinner when he was suddenly stabbed four times by his partner’s son in the throes of a drug addiction, a court has heard.

An Adelaide DJ sought help for his “escalating” drug addiction days before he stabbed his mother’s partner, a court has heard, in the fifth violent knife-related incident in the city in three weeks.

Ben Maksimovic, known as producer and DJ ‘Ben Mak’, 27, appeared before Magistrate Lana Chester in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court via video on Tuesday, charged with attempted cause serious harm with intent.

Police prosecution told the court Mr Maksimovic, of Ridgehaven, had been taken to his mother’s partner’s Tea Tree Gully home a few days prior to the alleged stabbing to get help with his drug habit.

Ben Maksimovic has been arrested and charged after allegedly stabbing his mother’s partner at a Tea Tree Gully home on Monday. Picture: 7NEWS

Police outside the Tea Tree Gully house after the stabbing. Picture: Natalie Vihkrov

The man is arrested at the scene after a stabbing at a Tea Tree Gully home on Monday, April 29, 2024. Picture: 7NEWS

While there, the court heard he has been “disrespectful” and “generally abusive” to the alleged victim.

Police prosecution alleged that on Monday evening Mr Maksimovic had been acting “strange” and “paranoid” and that evening, while making dinner, the victim went to his fridge to collect something.

They allege that Mr Maksimovic then picked up a knife and lunged at him, inflicting multiple wounds to the man.

The court heard Mr Maksimovic’s mother was present and witnessed the stabbing.

Mr Maksimovic had allegedly handed over knuckle dusters to his mother during the course of the stay, leading to a charge of possessing a prohibited weapon.

Police and emergency services were called to the house just before 6.30pm on Monday, after reports of a fight.

When police arrived at the scene they found a 53-year-old man with four stab wounds to his neck and head.

He was rushed to hospital where he received stitches for wounds police say were not considered life-threatening.

Police at the Tea Tree Gully home after the stabbing. Picture: 7NEWS

A crime scene investigation van was parked outside the home on Monday night and the house was cordoned off with police tape.

Counsel for Mr Maksimovic said her client had been upfront about his “escalating” issue and seeking help.

She told the court her client was looking to enrol in support programs for his drug issues and had no history of failing to comply with court orders.

Ms Chester remanded Mr Maksimovic in custody and ordered a home detention and bail inquiry report due to return in a week.

The arrest follows rising, unrelated knife-related incidents across South Australia this month – and other shocking attacks in NSW.

They include a stabbing in Enfield on Monday, an alleged attempted murder in Munno Para on Friday night, threats with a knife in Glenelg last week and an alleged murder in Welland on April 10.

In NSW, a 10-year-old girl was stabbed to death, allegedly by her 17-year-old sister on Monday, while the state still reels from the Bondi knife massacre that killed six shoppers on April 13 and a 15-year-old allegedly stabbed a religious leader in Sydney’s west on April 15.