Stephen Alan Warne denied bail over Mackay CBD hostel stabbing

A hostel guest, charged over an alleged bloody stabbing in North Queensland, has been revealed in court as a suspect in a grisly NSW murder. DETAILS.

Stephen Alan Warne (left) is charged with stabbing a man he lived with at Geckos Rest hostel in the Mackay CBD on Mothers Day 2022. He is also a suspect in his father Jamie Culgan’s (right) homicide investigation in New South Wales.

A man who allegedly “snuck” up on a housemate at a budget Mackay CBD hostel bathroom and stabbed him multiple times has been revealed as a suspect in his father’s murder in New South Wales.

Stephen Alan Warne is charged over an alleged vicious knife attack at Gecko’s Rest Budget Accommodation on Mother’s Day.

As he applied for bail this week, it was revealed his father had been stabbed to death in NSW prior to the Mackay incident and Mr Warne was wanted on a warrant over the alleged murder.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Mr Warne had been living at the Sydney Street hostel in Central Queensland in May 2022 and was involved in a “minor interaction” with another man, who had asked what he was reading.

He said “a bible”, the court heard.

Stephen Alan Warne is charged acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm over an incident at Geckos Rest hostel in the Mackay CBD.

“Later in the day the victim was standing at a bathroom sink getting a drink of water and washing his face when Mr Warne allegedly snuck up behind him and stabbed him in the back,” Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan told the court.

“When the victim turned around he fell to the ground and while on the ground Mr Warne allegedly stabbed him again multiple times.”

The court heard it was alleged the man barricaded himself in the bathroom as Mr Warne tried to force his way through the door, but was unsuccessful and fled.

Ms Hartigan said the man was able to raise help, “he was taken to the hospital (and) required surgery”.

A man was seriously injured in a wounding incident on Mother’s Day. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Defence solicitor Jordana Abela said there were concerns regarding her client’s “capacity” and she was taking steps regarding his “fitness for trial”.

She said he had been diagnosed as bipolar and suggested strict conditions including reporting and residential, a tracking device and no contact orders could mitigate any risk regarding his release on bail.

But Ms Hartigan said it was “such an overwhelming case in my view” and that Mr Warne, who is charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm that has a maximum penalty of life in jail, was not at risk of serving too much time.

“He’s identified,” Ms Hartigan said.

“He was (allegedly) seen to be holding a knife dripping with blood and placing it in a sink where it was later found.”

NSW police are investigating the death of Jamie Culgan, whose body was found inside a Leumeah apartment complex.

Ms Hartigan placed on the record Mr Warne was “a person of interest and has been interviewed as a suspect for an ongoing homicide investigation in New South Wales”.

The body of Jamie Culgan was found in a Leumeah apartment on Monday, March 14, 2022.

It is understood the 49 year old could have been dead for up to two weeks before his body was discovered.

“The victim in this matter is his father,” she said.

“That alleged victim died of multiple stab wounds.”

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

The court heard there was a warrant for Mr Warne in relation to his father’s alleged murder.

Ms Hartigan also said Mr Warne’s criminal history and the hostel stabbing allegation “speaks of significant mental health issues which must be closely and seriously monitored”.

“I’m very worried about him committing further offences if he’s released if he gets upset with someone,” she said.

The court heard that in 2015 he was given a nine-month wholly suspended jail term for attacking a door-to-door salesman with a metal pole.

In March 2022 he also fled from the mental health inpatient unit before he could be assessed and treated.

Ms Hartigan determined Mr Warne was at “extreme risk of committing further offences in the community should an unsuspecting stranger upset him”.

Bail was denied and the matter was adjourned until March 2023 for a psychiatric report to be prepared.