Keno winner cleared of stabbing man allegedly trying to steal cash

Having a good win on Keno at his local had Rickey Norman McDougall celebrating — but it turned out to be the start of events that landed him in court, facing charges of stabbing a man.

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Having a good win on Keno at his local had Rickey Norman McDougall celebrating — but it turned out to be the start of events that landed him in court, facing charges of stabbing a homeless man.

However, charges against Mr McDougall, 54, that he assaulted and stabbed homeless man Timothy Gill at his home have been dropped.

According to documents tendered to Parramatta Local Court, the 54-year-old had won $9500 from the Wentworthville Hotel on June 9, 2018.

Rickey Norman McDougall landed in court with a stabbing charge following a Keno win. Picture: Generic image

A week later, he arranged for Mr Gill to live at his Guildford home rent-free for two weeks on the condition he ­assist with household duties.

But on June 21, Mr McDougall noticed $200 of the cash missing and blamed Mr Gill, who denied stealing the money.

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It resulted in a heated confrontation where the homeless man was punched several times and tackled onto the concrete floor.

Mr McDougall said he was acting in self-defence and he was not charged over the punching or tackling.

Mr Gill was taken to Westmead Hospital for bruising and bleeding on the brain.

He told police Mr McDougall stabbed him in the right hand with the red pocket knife and struck him in the forehead with the flat side of a 50cm bowie knife.

Rickey Norman McDougall won $9500 from the Wentworthville Hotel on June 9, 2018 but then landed in court. Picture: Peter Clark

Mr McDougall was arrested in traffic on June 22 and later charged with reckless wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing prohibited drugs.

While Mr McDougall ­admitted to punching Mr Gill several times and driving his head into the concrete, he ­denied stabbing him with the pocket knife or assaulting him with the bowie knife.

The charges were withdrawn following arguments from his lawyer Abdul Reslan that it could not be proven that a stab wound suffered by Mr Gill had actually been inflicted by Mr McDougall and not someone else in another incident.

On March 7, the reckless wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm charges were withdrawn.

The drug possession charge was dealt with and no penalty was issued.