Murder suspect Stephen Alan Warne denied bail over Mackay hostel stabbing

A murder suspect who is also accused of violently stabbing a man at a budget Queensland hostel claims he is at risk of spending too much time behind bars.

Stephen Alan Warne is charged with stabbing a man he lived with at Geckos Rest hostel in the Mackay CBD on Mothers Day 2022.

A murder suspect who is also accused of violently stabbing a man at a budget Mackay CBD hostel has made a second bid bor bail arguing he is at risk of spending too much time behind bars.

Stephen Alan Warne is charged over a vicious knife attack at Gecko’s Rest Budget Accommodation on May 8, 2022, where both he and the alleged victim lived.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard he was also the main suspect in his father’s alleged murder in New South Wales with a warrant out for his arrest.

The 28 year old has been in custody on remand since he was arrested and charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm over the Mother’s Day 2022 alleged attack, totalling about 18 months.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Erin Beer said Mr Warne was now at risk of spending too much time in custody especially if there was a potential avenue for the charge to be downgraded to wounding.

No pleas have been entered.

Stephen Alan Warne is charged with stabbing a man he lived with at Geckos Rest hostel in the Mackay CBD on Mother‘s Day 2022.

During a bail application for Mr Warne, Mackay Magistrates Court heard his current charge had a maximum penalty of life imprisonment with a starting point of about six years jail, whereas unlawful wounding had a maximum penalty of seven years jail.

The court heard the matter had only recently been committed to Mackay District Court, which could take another six months before he was actually formally indicted, and if it was referred to Mental Health Court, that could be another two years.

Ms Beer argued any risk could be managed with strict bail conditions including residing with his mother, no contact orders with the alleged victim and avoiding Gecko’s Rest hostel.

Police are investigating after a man was seriously injured in a wounding incident in the Mackay cbd. Picture: Janessa Ekert

She said he had been following a mental health and treatment plan in custody to manage his schizophrenia, and there was a plan on how it would continue if released on bail.

Mr Warne was previously rejected bail in November 2022 as the court found he was an “extreme risk”.

The court heard on March 19, 2022 Mr Warne was interviewed regarding the suspected murder of his father Jamie Culgan, whose body was found in a Leumeah apartment five days earlier.

Police believe he could have been dead for up to two weeks before his body was discovered – he died of multiple stab wounds.

Jamie Culgan's body was found inside a Leumeah apartment complex on March 15, 2022.

Prosecutor Sheena Gravino said she had been advised by NSW detectives there was “a strong case against (Mr Warne) for the charge the subject of the arrest warrant”.

“Which is particularly bolstered by significant forensic and DNA results as well as CCTV footage and witness accounts,” Ms Gravino said.

The court heard however if he was released on bail he would still be considered “under restraint” and the arrest warrant linked to the suspected murder could not be executed on him.

Police investigators at a crime scene on Middleton Rd, Leumeah after a body was found inside a residence on March 14, 2022. Photos taken on March 15, 2022. Picture: Annie Lewis

Ms Gravino submitted this made Mr Warne a flight risk.

She said Mr Warne had a “violent disposition in my submission based on his criminal history”.

“He was unemployed at the time of the alleged offending before the court and despite having multiple family members in the region was residing at the Gecko’s Rest hostel,” Ms Gravino said.

The court heard Mr Warne was in a show cause position and Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne said it was a “very serious charge”.

“There were a number of witnesses who observed you with the weapon after the attack on the victim,” Mr Byrne said, later adding he was not satisfied Mr Warne had shown cause or was at risk of spending too much time in custody while on remand.

The second bail bid was denied.