Manhunt comes to an end as alleged stabber charged

Police have charged an 18-year-old Mountain Creek man in relation to the alleged stabbing of a teenage girl at a Sunshine Coast shopping centre on Monday.

UPDATE 6AM:

POLICE have charged an 18-year-old Mountain Creek man in relation to the alleged stabbing of a teenage girl at a Sunshine Coast shopping centre on Monday afternoon.

He has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm (GBH), acts intended to cause GBH, wounding and possession of a knife in a public place.

He will appear before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court today.

EARLIER:

POLICE have arrested an 18-year-old man alleged to have stabbed a teenage girl in the neck after a two-day search.

Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Daren Edwards said the man allegedly fled Kawana Shoppingworld on foot after the brawl on Monday about 4pm.

The 16-year-old girl was allegedly left with a 10-12cm gash from ear to chin after she attempted to break up a fight between the 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy.

She is recovering in hospital and is "incredibly lucky", police say.

Detective Senior Sergeant Edwards said the man allegedly caught a train to Woodridge, near Brisbane, after the alleged brawl and had been hiding out since Monday.

He said when police arrived at the Woodridge address, the man allegedly attempted to flee over the back fence but was arrested and taken into custody.

He's expected to be charged later today with one count of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of assault.

Sen-Sgt Edwards said police will allege the attack was not planned, however he said the 18-year-old man saw the victim and "directed his attention" towards him.

The girl has undergone surgery at Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Sen-Sgt Edwards hoped it would not be permanent scarring.

"I have seen the wound and it was quite horrific, hopefully the scarring won't be too detrimental," he said.

"It was a serious matter and that lady is very lucky it wasn't worse."

Snr-Sgt Edwards said the man was expected to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court tomorrow.

More to come.

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