Cameron Turgay Bardak jailed for 14 years for attempted murder with axe

A woman whose estranged partner tried to murder her with an axe has described the toll it took on her life, as he was jailed for the terrifying attack.

Cameron Turgay Bardak has been jailed for attempting to murder his ex-partner.

A woman whose ex-partner tried to murder her with an axe in a terrifying car park attack now dreads being in Brisbane where the incident happened, and has since moved overseas.

In a victim impact statement read to Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday, Maria Buci said the person she once was had died and she had lost all independence since the attack by Cameron Turgay Bardak on July 1, 2020.

Bardak, 32, a Government House security officer, was found guilty of attempted murder by a jury on Thursday following a seven-day trial.

He was sentenced on Friday to 14 years’ jail for attempting to murder Ms Buci and wounding a good samaritan who came to her aid.

Bardak attacked Ms Buci, a lawyer, after she had finished work and was walking to her vehicle in a car park in Brisbane City.

During the trial, Bardak claimed he never meant to kill or hurt anyone, and that he had merely taken the axe with him to talk to Ms Buci so he could “badger her” into taking him back.

Bardak hid behind a concrete pillar and ambushed Ms Buci. He told her he was going to kill her before repeatedly striking her with the hatchet and strangling her.

Maria Buci outside Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday. Picture: Tertius Pickard/NCA NewsWire

Ms Buci gave a victim impact statement on Friday afternoon during Bardak’s sentencing.

She said she would never forget his words that day: “I’m going to kill you.”

She said she has nightmares, sleeping problems, feared Bardak would kill her someday when he was free, and had intimacy and trust issues with all men – even friends and colleagues.

When she returned to work, she moved from her employer’s Brisbane office to their Gold Coast office, because Brisbane now “disgusts” her.

She would always need a colleague to escort her to and from the office, and if she went out to get lunch.

In the end, Ms Buci moved overseas, where she remains.

“My life will go on, but it will not be the life I planned for myself as I am not the person I once was,” she told the court.

“The person I knew died – not physically, but mentally and emotionally.

“I have lost all independence as a human being and as a woman.”

One of those who came to Ms Buci’s aid was David Sturgess, who was riding his electric scooter down the multi-level car park on his way home.

Mr Sturgess heard Ms Buci’s screams and confronted Bardak. He was able to grab Bardak’s arm as he prepared to swing the hatchet, and twist the weapon from the attacker’s hand.

Cameron Turgay Bardak

Mr Sturgess suffered a wound to his hand when he used it to deflect Bardak’s swing of the hatchet towards him.

On the first day of his trial Bardak pleaded guilty to the wounding of Mr Sturgess but not guilty to the attempted murder of Ms Buci.

The jury of seven men and five women rejected Bardak’s story, finding him guilty of attempted murder after six-and-a-half hours of deliberation on Wednesday and Thursday.

Defence barrister Matthew Hynes said Bardak had an exceptional work history, no prior criminal history, and was a model prisoner. Bardak has since been diagnosed with autism.

On Friday, Justice Glenn Martin sentenced Bardak to 14 years’ prison for attempted murder, and three years behind bars for wounding. They will be served concurrently.

A serious violent offence order was also made, meaning Bardak must serve 80 per cent, equating to more than 11 years, before he is eligible for parole.

However, he has served almost three years in pre-sentence custody, which will be counted as time already served.

Outside court, Ms Buci said she was “very happy” with Bardak’s sentence.

“Now I can definitely really try to move on with my life and get back to the person who I was as much as I can,” she said.