Sam Northen to front Gympie District Court over alleged stabbing

New details around the events leading up to the wounding of a 25-year-old man in a suburban street have been revealed in a Gympie court. Find out what was said.

New details have emerged following an alleged early-morning stabbing in a suburban Gympie street in September, 2021.

Gympie man Sam Northen, 21, was charged with common assault and unlawful wounding after he allegedly stabbed a 25-year-old man’s hand in the early hours of September 25, 2021.

The court previously heard Mr Northen had aimed for the man’s chest.

On Thursday, Mr Northen appeared in the Gympie Magistrates Court, where four witnesses were cross examined on their police statements by defence lawyer Chris Anderson.

Mr Northen was supported by one person in the public gallery.

First to give evidence was Dakoda Kays, who was also the alleged victim of the stabbing.

Mr Kays said he and his friends were at a social gathering at his Crestwood Court home, enjoying some drinks.

At some point, Mr Northen and an unknown group of friends allegedly began helping themselves to cigarettes and drinks without permission, he said.

“We just asked if they could preferably ask before they come (sic) in and took anything ... we were happy to give, but we would prefer if they asked,” he said.

A scuffle between Mr Kays, Mr Northen and a third man followed, the court heard. This quickly escalated and the group was asked to leave.

Around this time, Mr Northen is alleged to have shoved another witness, Nadia Bassett, after telling them he was not going to leave, Mr Kays said.

A fight then broke out in the backyard of the Crestwood Court home.

Some time later, Mr Kays said Mr Northen was cornered near the front door, allegedly holding a knife which he pointed at Mr Kays’ chest and swung at him several times.

A second witness, Emily Bassett, told the court Mr Northen had stabbed the wall moments before he turned the knife on Mr Kays.

Emergency crews were called to Crestwood Court (pictured) following the wounding at 4.30am on Saturday, September 25, 2021.

Mr Kays said the knife tip touched what he described as his “left peck”, and then pierced the skin of his sternum, though this did not require medical attention.

“He lunged at me to start off with ... missed me the first time, then got me the second time and that’s when I had enough,” Mr Kays said.

“I tried to grab it after that, and then he got me in the hand, and then I ended up just going for his hand and the knife.”

A second man then opened the front door from behind Mr Northen, and he was shoved outside, the court heard.

Nadia Bassett, Ms Bassett’s sister and the alleged victim of the common assault charge, said she called police once she saw the knife.

The court heard Mr Northen eventually left, and Mr Kays was taken to hospital for the knife wound.

The matter was committed to trial at the next sittings of the Gympie District Court.