Attempted murderer to appeal conviction, sentence for Brisbane carpark axe attack

A Government House security guard sentenced to spend more than a decade in prison for attempting to kill his lawyer ex-girlfriend in a shocking daylight axe attack in a Brisbane carpark is appealing the decision.

A Government House security guard sentenced to spend more than a decade in prison for attempting to kill his girlfriend in a terrifying daylight axe attack in Brisbane’s CBD is appealing the decision.

Cameron Turgay Bardak has taken his case to Queensland’s highest court, appealing against his conviction for attempted murder and the 14-year prison sentence imposed for the crime.

In May this year, a Supreme Court jury found Bardak guilty of the attempted murder of his lawyer girlfriend Maria Buci in a Brisbane parking garage on July 1, 2020.

The court heard on the day of the attack, the pair had broken up before Bardak went to Bunnings and purchased a hatchet which he later took with him to ambush Ms Buci at her car as she finished work.

As he shopped for the hatchet and hid beside her car, Bardak bombarded Ms Buci with dozens of messages, flipping between begging for forgiveness and pleading for a reconciliation before becoming abusive, calling her a f***ing worthless c***” and a “piece of s***”.

Cameron Turgay Bardak.

Shortly after 5pm, he attempted to lure her from her office, writing to her “f*** off and go home” and “you’re not getting any more work done today obviously”.

When Ms Buci arrived at her car, the court heard she was set upon by Bardak who struck her at least twice with the axe, strangled her and placed her in a chokehold, repeatedly chasing after her when she managed to break free of his grip with the help of the good Samaritans who heard her screams and rushed to save her.

Maria Buci outside court in May after Bardak was found guilty. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Bardak, a bodybuilder and Government House security guard, had pleaded not guilty to the charge and took the stand at his trial and claimed he simply wanted to talk to Ms Buci but had taken the axe as a “contingency” so he could get her alone and convince her to forgive him.

He was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment with a serious violent offence declaration, meaning he will have to serve 80 per cent of that time in custody before he is eligible for parole.

Almost three years on remand was counted as time already served.

A date has not yet been set for the case to be heard in Queensland’s Court of Appeal.