Man charged over alleged stabbing near Australia Fair

Police will allege a man found clinging to life in a shopping centre bathroom had been stabbed with a box cutter after an argument sparked by a “love triangle”.

Police will allege a man found clinging to life in a shopping centre bathroom had been stabbed with a box cutter after an argument sparked by a “love triangle”.

Raymond Wilkinson, 42, was allegedly stabbed in the chest during an altercation with another man at Welch Street, Southport about midday on Friday.

Mr Wilkinson then stumbled to the nearby Australia Fair shopping centre before collapsing on a bathroom floor.

He was discovered by a member of the public who called emergency services.

While Mr Wilkinson underwent emergency surgery on his chest wounds, police launched a wide-scale search for his alleged attacker, eventually arresting a 43-year-old man at Miami late Friday night.

He was charged with grievous bodily harm, possessing a relevant substance and possessing drug utensils and was remanded in custody to face Southport Magistrates Court on September 10.

Police at Australia Fair where the injured man was found.

Police will allege the incident occurred after Mr Wilkinson went to the Welch St unit looking to find a woman. She was not present at the time.

“(He) has tried to gain entry to one of the units there and they have been confronted by another male,” Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said.

“An argument has resulted between the two males where subsequently the person who tried to gain entry into the premises has been stabbed with a box cutter and stabbed in the chest.

“The male victim has then left the premises and wandered over to a toilet block in the Australia Fair Shopping Centre. It was here that he was located and emergency services were called.”

Mr Wilkinson is expected to make a full recovery after surgery on his wounds.

Police were on Monday searching for a second man in connection with the incident.

“We allege that he also was there when the person was stabbed and was involved in this argument. We know who that person is and it’s just a matter of tracking him down and we’re confident that we’ll do that,” Chief Supt Hanlon said.

He said the people involved were all known to each other and the dispute involved an apparent “love triangle”.

“They’re all locals and we understand there is some form of relationship, they are known to each other,” he said.

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Originally published as Man charged over alleged stabbing near Australia Fair