Court: Alleged Grafton knifeman Mark Skinner was out on bail prior to being shot by police

It can be revealed that a man who allegedly rushed police with a knife before being shot several times was granted bail less than a week prior to the altercation, after being charged with an assault on his partner.

Police at the scene near McKittrick Park on Ryan St, Grafton on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, where a man was shot by officers after allegedly making threats with a knife. Picture: Toni Moon.

A man who allegedly rushed police with a knife before being shot several times was on bail for less than a week prior to the altercation after being charged with an assault on his partner.

Mark Skinner, 32, is laid up in Gold Coast University Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds after the incident in Grafton last Wednesday. He remained in a serious but stable condition on Monday afternoon.

Police were called to Ryan St, near McKittrick Park, shortly after 6.30am on December 11 after concerns were raised over Skinner’s welfare.

Upon arrival, the Coffs-Clarence Police District officers attempted to engage with Skinner before he allegedly produced a knife and “approached” before he was “shot a number of times”, Northern Region commander, Assistant Commissioner David Waddell, said.

The officers rendered first aid until the arrival of paramedics. Skinner was then flown to Gold Coast University Hospital.

NSW Police continue to investigate the incident, with the probe subject to an independent review.

Mark Skinner. Picture: Facebook.

Last week, Skinner’s family took to social media to say he had been “going through a lot lately”.

Court documents state Skinner made a successful bail application in Kempsey Local Court on December 5 - six days before he was shot - after he was charged with one count each of stalk/intimidate and intend to cause physical harm (DV) and common assault (DV). He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

According to the court documents, the unemployed father of four is alleged to have threatened to jump on his partner’s head before shoulder barging her at their South Kempsey home on September 20.

Staff from the Department of Community and Justice arrived at the home to find Skinner asleep, court documents said.

Police at the scene near McKittrick Park on Ryan St, Grafton on December 11, 2024, where a man was shot by officers after allegedly making threats with a knife. Picture: Toni Moon.

Skinner’s partner tried to wake him up when DCJ staff arrived. He then allegedly said: “I’m gunna jump on your head, I will kill you c--t”.

The two workers came inside and he allegedly shoulder barged his partner. He then fled the scene on a scooter before being arrested a short time later by police, the documents state.

In court on December 5, bail was granted with strict conditions including that Skinner report daily to Maclean police station; he live within the NSW postcode of 2463; he not enter Kempsey or go within 20km of the town unless attending court; he not go near or contact any witnesses and not consume alcohol or take any drugs.

Skinner’s domestic violence charges are scheduled for hearing on February 14 in Kempsey Local Court.

To date, he has not been charged in relation to the alleged attack on police.

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