Ryan Lee Gray faces court over alleged stabbing at Commercial Hotel, Nambour
A man accused of stabbing a punter at a Sunshine Coast pub was released from a mental health ward only hours prior to the incident.
Police & Courts
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A 41-year-old man accused of stabbing a punter at a Sunshine Coast watering hole was only released from a mental health facility hours earlier, it can be revealed
Ryan Lee Gray was arrested by police following the allegedly violent incident at the Commercial Hotel on Currie St in Nambour on Tuesday afternoon.
Police allege the Nambour man stabbed his victim in the head near the main street hotel about 2.30pm before he fled.
The alleged victim, a 33-year-old Charleville man known to Gray, suffered multiple wounds and was rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a potentially life-threatening condition.
The area was taped off by police and the Commercial Hotel Nambour was closed as multiple officers scoured the nearby area.
Police found Gray across the road from Currie St in Petrie Park and arrested him without incident about 3.43pm on Tuesday.
He was charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public space.
He appeared in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he made no application for bail and had his matters adjourned to allow for a mental health assessment. Gray was remanded in custody and will return to court on July 1.
It can be revealed by this publication that Gray was released from the Nambour Mental Health unit about 1pm on Tuesday, only two hours before the alleged stabbing took place.
Police allege he was briefly admitted to the hospital due to a psychotic relapse from drug use.
In the wake of the alleged stabbing, State Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt said this type of alleged violence had no place in the community which took place only two shopfronts away from his office. He commended the quick response of police and paramedics.
“For too long, locals and business owners have raised concerns about safety in the CBD. This week’s events underscore the urgent need for action, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering,“ Mr Hunt said.
“I have fought hard to secure funding for a permanent police beat and upgraded CCTV in the heart of Nambour and this week I am pleased to announce a total of $3 million has been committed to this important community safety project.
“This investment is about making Nambour safer, and ensuring our police can respond swiftly and deter future crime.”
A Sunshine Coast Health spokeswoman said the health service protected the privacy and confidentiality of the patients who access their services and would not comment on the individual circumstances of care.
“This matter is under investigation by the Queensland Police Service and we are unable to provide further details,” the spokeswoman said.
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