Luke Anthony Godwin charged with going armed to cause fear, serious assault police

A former Sunshine Coast real estate business owner who allegedly walked at police with a large knife two days after the Bondi Junction attack has had his bail denied.

Luke Anthony Godwin.

A former Sunshine Coast real estate agent who allegedly threatened people with a large knife and was arrested at gunpoint had his bail refused after an assessment revealed he has long-term alcohol issues.

Buddina man Luke Anthony Godwin, 58, appeared on video link at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on April 18 to continue his part-heard bail from the previous day.

He is charged with two counts of serious assault of police and two charges of going armed to cause fear. He has not entered any pleas.

Court documents allege Mr Godwin threatened two mental health clinicians outside his Buddina unit on Monday, April 15, after they were called by his daughter with concerns about his failing mental health.

The documents state Mr Godwin refused a mental health assessment and allegedly became angry with the clinicians, who were forced to retreat to their car outside out of fear.

They then called police to help in the urgent need of a mental health assessment.

Mr Godwin is alleged to have then banged on the car window, attempted to pull the door open and get inside before he retreated back into his unit, only to return in different clothing and allegedly branding a large knife.

The clinicians alleged in court documents Mr Godwin charged at the car, showed them the weapon and banged on the window with the butt of the knife.

They alleged in the documents they feared for their safety and the safety of others in a nearby park and primary school, and that Mr Godwin was “extremely hostile” with “murderous intent in his eyes”.

Police were called, and Mr Godwin was allegedly found with the knife in a park near the Kawana Surf Club.

Police attempted to get Mr Godwin to drop the knife, but he refused and began walking towards the officers with it pointed towards them.

One officer was then forced to draw his gun and warned Mr Godwin he was armed, and then moved direction so he would not injure any other members of the public if he was forced to shoot.

The documents allege Mr Godwin then dropped the knife a short distance in front of him, still in arms reach, and was arrested at the scene.

Luke Anthony Godwin.

A police objection to bail states Mr Godwin has a history of recent psychotic episodes and was admitted to hospital for mental health treatment in 2023.

The document states he had most recently been in hospital two weeks prior to the alleged incident but had been discharged with a prescription for anti-psychotics, though he was allegedly flushing these down the toilet.

It states Mr Godwin left his job as the owner of Team Godwin Real Estate 18 months ago, around the same time his long-term relationship ended and two of his family members had died.

It was alleged he has a history of substance abuse, the court heard.

He becomes aggressive when intoxicated, the document states.

A mental health assessment taken while Mr Godwin was in the Maroochydore Watch House states he was placed under the mental health act shortly after his arrest, and if remanded in custody would be referred to the prison mental health service.

If released on bail, he would be taken to the emergency department of an authorised mental health service, but admission to hospital was not guaranteed.

Police said on Wednesday Mr Godwin should not receive bail, in light of the unrelated Bondi Junction stabbing tragedy and because he posed serious risk to public safety.

Mr Godwin’s lawyer Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown submitted his client’s updated mental health liaison report to the court on Thursday.

Mr Ygoa-McKeown said the assessment officer concluded Mr Godwin likely suffers from alcohol-induced mania or brief reactive psychosis with a secondary diagnosis of bipolar, but the officer did not have the “scope” to fully assess him.

Magistrate Rod Madsen told the court Mr Godwin had been verbally aggressive and difficult to engage with for the liaison officers.

Mr Godwin clutched his hands in front of him as he listened intently throughout the mention.

Police prosecutor Mel Pyke told the court police officers who had spoken to Mr Godwin’s daughter discovered he had been drinking alcohol everyday for a month and frequently smoked cannabis.

The court heard his daughter would not be able to care for him and he would not abide to his mental health plan.

Mr Ygoa-McKeown said his client disputes the allegations he drank alcohol everyday for a month and does not know where the conclusion came from.

Mr Madsen said his assessment shows he has long-term alcohol problems and Mr Godwin began to laugh on video.

He was refused bail and the matter was adjourned to May 30.