Alex Robert Leslie Bell charged over Juliet St stabbing

A man accused of stabbing three people with a box cutter claims he was only acting in “self defence” against an axe and metal pole, a court has heard. DETAILS

Police arrested Alex Robert Leslie Bell following a serious incident on the Mackay city fringe on November 4, 2024 at Juliet St.

A man accused of stabbing three people with a box cutter claims he was only acting in “self defence” against a group he says had stolen his caravan, a court heard.

Police arrested Alex Robert Leslie Bell following a serious incident on the Mackay city fringe on November 4.

It is alleged five people all known to each other had become involved in an altercation on Juliet St and as a result, a 23-year-old man, a 21-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman were injured.

Mr Bell, 27, is facing multiple charges including three counts of assault while armed, two counts of common assault and one count each of grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning bodily harm.

The 27 year old was initially charged with one count of wounding but that was upgraded to the grievous bodily harm charge.

He appeared in person in the Mackay Magistrates Court dock wearing a grey jumper and sweatpants, with a visible cut to the top of his head and bandages on his right hand.

The court heard he had been placed on a suspended sentence one month before the alleged stabbing incident occurred.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Geoff Govey said during a bail application his client alleged he was the one “set upon”, claiming one of the group had an axe, another a metal pole and the woman a 2m long stick.

Mr Govey said his client alleged he had been visiting the home next door to where the incident occurred.

“His version of what happened is very different from the version (in) … the bail objection,” Mr Govey said.

“They (the alleged victims) previously had (allegedly) stolen his caravan and his possessions and those possessions were in their yard.

“He had approached them and they had actually … were waiting for him in the garage area.

“Then he was attacked by the group, he was simply defending himself.”

Mr Govey said his client alleged one of the group “came at him with an axe”.

“He just said he wanted to get his stuff back,” Mr Govey said.

“He said he saw his possessions in the front yard.”

The court heard Mr Bell had his caravan back but his other possessions were lost to him.

Mr Govey argued his client had an address on Carlyle St where he could live in his caravan, arguing it could take some time for the matter to be finalised.

Because of the grievous bodily harm charge, the matter must be committed to the district court.

“Seems to me you have no ties to this area at all,” Magistrates Damien Dwyer said, noting Mr Bell had been on a suspended sentence and that it was alleged he had gone armed to the neighbour’s home.

“You say you were only defending yourself but … we see some very serious injuries.”

The court heard Mr Bell was unemployed.

Mr Dwyer found there was an unacceptable risk of failing to appear and committing further offences and denied Mr Bell’s bail.

Matters were adjourned to late January 2024 for a committal mention.