Home Hill stabbing: British journalist Tom Jackson attacked as he went to aid of Mia Ayliffe-Chung

UPDATE: A man accused of the brutal murder of a British backpacker at a north Queensland hostel has been remanded in custody.

A MAN accused of the brutal murder of a British backpacker at a north Queensland hostel has been remanded in custody.

Smail Ayad has been charged for the fatal stabbing of British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung.

Ayad, 29, has been charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder.

He is also charged with animal cruelty and 12 counts of assaulting police.

Ayad did not appear in Townsville Magistrates Court today or by video link, which was previously planned.

BREAKING police move alleged backpacker killer Smail Ayad from Townsville watch house @7NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/7kDYdbJfrS

— Marlina Whop (@MarlinaWhop) August 26, 2016

Legal Aid Solicitor Helen Armitage told the court police had requested he not attend.

“Your honour if I could note that it was the police who requested that he not be brought up and I’ve taken instructions which don’t resist that,” she said.

He was remanded in custody until October 28 and has left the Townsville watchhouse in a police convoy. Prior to him leaving there was a heavy police presence outside.

Ms Armitage asked that he also be excused from his next appearance.

The court was closed briefly after police said they wanted to make an application.

British backpacker Tom Jackson remains in Townsville hospital in a critical condition after he was allegedly stabbed by Ayad on Tuesday night.

His father Les flew in from the United Kingdom last night.

Today’s court matter was delayed briefly while court officials wait for a French-speaking lawyer to arrive to interpret for the man.

EARLIER: “Selfless” hero Tom Jackson was stabbed in the face, head and torso trying to save murdered girl Mia Ayliffe-Chung after she fled, badly injured, into the hostel’s bathroom.

The 30-year-old British journalist remained in the Townsville Hospital last night with horrific injuries as his father Les completed a frantic dash to reach his son’s bedside.

RACISM: Mia’s poignant post before murder

Police have described Mr Jackson’s actions as “completely selfless”, saying he drew the attention of his ­alleged attacker by going to the aid of a dying woman.

Detectives yesterday charged French national Smail Ayad with murder, two counts of attempted murder, serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of assaulting police after he allegedly refused to answer questions.

Tom Jackson remains in the Townsville Hospital.

Police have accused him of attacking 12 different officers – including biting one on the leg – since his arrest Tuesday night.

Ayad, 29, is understood to have been staying in the same room as Ms Ayliffe-Chung at the Home Hill backpacker hostel and is believed to have developed an infatuation with her.

He allegedly dragged her from her bed on to the balcony late Tuesday night, where he allegedly stabbed her repeatedly, screaming “Allahu Akbar”.

From there, he allegedly attacked a caretaker before leaping off the balcony, landing on his back.

Mobile phone footage captured by backpackers is said to show Ayad continuing his frenzied attack by chasing down a german shepherd and stabbing it repeatedly until it died.

When he re-entered the hostel moments later, he allegedly attacked Mr Jackson after finding him trying to help Ms Ayliffe-Chung.

“There is no doubt Mr Jackson attempted to render aid to Mia,” Superintendent Ray Rohweder said. “His subsequent actions were absolutely fantastic and I have no doubt that his actions on that day, as selfless, completely selfless as they were, led to the injuries that he now has.”

John Norris who runs the hostel said he believed a lot of people at the hostel were ­heroes. He said another ­backpacker, Welsh man Dan Richards, had also gone to help Ms Ayliffe-Chung, but was not attacked.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung’s mother described her as “a rare person who saw beyond race, creed and belief”.

“For some reason (Ayad allegedly) left Dan alone and just attacked Tom,” he said.

Mr Norris said he believed Ayad took a small paring knife from the hostel kitchen.

Les Jackson yesterday shared a photo of his family – including his son Tom – with the caption: “Family – the only really important thing.”

Tom Jackson interned for an English newspaper in Cambodia, but spent the past year and a half working freelance. “To say that I’ve had a lifelong ambition to be a journalist would be at best an understatement,” he wrote on an online profile.

Friends and family yesterday paid tribute to Ms Ayliffe-Chung as British High Commissioner to Australia, Menna Rawlings, arrived at the hostel to lay flowers.

Mourners leave flowers in memory of Mia at the Home Hill hostel.

The 21-year-old’s mother, Rosie Ayliffe, described her daughter as “a rare person who saw beyond race, creed and belief”. Pictures of the 21-year-old were splashed on the front page of UK newspapers yesterday.

Her former boyfriend, ­Sydney photographer Jamison Stead, said he was “devastated” and in “disbelief” over her brutal killing.

“Mia was a beautiful soul who was always looking out for people,” he said. “She was a beautiful girl. My heart goes out to her and her family.”

Police have alleged Ayad had been acting out of character in the days leading up to the attack.

It is understood he had been quieter than usual and had made comments about his intention to marry Ms Ayliffe-Chung – a woman he had known only days and who had shown no romantic interest in him. A backpacker who worked with Ayad said he was a quiet person who mainly kept to himself. Fellow travellers called him “Smile” or “Smiley”.

“He always had a smile on his face; he was great to have as company, just had a very sincere smile about him,” the man said. “His English wasn’t the best, he was a quiet guy, but to me he seemed like a nice guy to be around.”

Supt Rohweder said he wanted to reaffirm that there “has been no indication whatsoever” that any radicalisation existed in relation to the attack.

Ayad is expected to appear via video link today in Townsville Magistrates Court.

— Additional reporting Sam Phillips