Magistrate gives stab accused bail

A MAN who allegedly stabbed a person in the throat with a steak knife was granted bail in Bundaberg Magistrates Court yesterday.

A MAN who allegedly stabbed a person in the throat with a steak knife was granted bail in Bundaberg Magistrates Court yesterday.

Christopher Martin Prouse, 39, turned himself in at the Bundaberg Police Station on Saturday night after an altercation that allegedly left a 38-year-old man with a hole in his throat.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Robyn Shapcott objected to Prouse's bail application, telling the court he had been visiting his girlfriend at her Stribe Street home when they had an argument about 9.15pm.

The woman allegedly asked Prouse to leave and, after he refused, she called two male friends to remove him.

When the men arrived, Prouse was eating dinner at the table, with his girlfriend sitting near him.

Sgt Shapcott said after a verbal exchange between Prouse and one of the men, the defendant walked past his girlfriend to the man and stabbed him in the throat with a serrated steak knife.

“He stabbed through the victim's neck, into the mouth cavity, up to the hilt of the knife, causing him to bleed profusely,” the prosecutor said.

“Obviously the basis of the prosecution's objection is the seriousness of the offence and the evidence is fairly overwhelming.”

When police arrived on the scene, Prouse had already left for the police station to hand himself in.

Defence lawyer Edwina Rowan told the court Prouse did not agree with all of the facts alleged by the police.

Ms Rowan said her client was living in Brisbane with his parents when he went to pick up his things from his ex-girlfriend's home.

While in town, the pair reconciled, but had an argument after he continued to load his things into his car.

“After the incident, he turned himself in and endeavoured to assist police,” Ms Rowan told the court.

“He felt threatened in his own home.”

The lawyer said Prouse intended to return to Brisbane and make no contact with the victim or any witnesses if granted bail.

Magistrate Neil Lavaring said Prouse did not appear to be an unacceptable risk of failing to appear at future court dates.

Mr Lavaring granted him bail on several conditions, including making no contact with witnesses, living at his parent's address and reporting weekly to the Boondall Police Station.

“I find that you are not an unacceptable risk, but only just, considering the seriousness of the offence,” the magistrate told Prouse.

“If you breach any of these conditions, you are likely to be remanded for a lengthy period of time.”

Originally published as Magistrate gives stab accused bail