Kingswood stabbing accused was ‘defending brother from drunks’
Police say Jason Middlebrook, his brother and another young man pulled up to a group of men, started a fight and left two men stabbed. But the alleged attacker says he was defending his brother from 10 drunk men.
NSW
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A young man allegedly involved in a brutal multiple stabbing at a Sydney train station has told a court he was defending himself and his brother from a drunken mob.
And even as court documents allege he was arrested while dealing cocaine just 15 minutes after the brawl – his father says his son isn’t dangerous.
Police say three young men – two aged 18 one aged 19 – were walking through Kingswood railway station’s car park just before midnight on Sunday when a Mazda 3 pulled over and three other men got out.
The two groups began fighting and the 19-year-old was allegedly stabbed in the back and neck while one of the 18-year-olds was stabbed in the stomach and ribs.
The three men got back in the Mazda and fled.
The injured men were taken to Westmead Hospital in stable conditions as police began searching for the alleged attackers.
About 15 minutes later highway patrol pulled over the Mazda at Tregear and arrested the trio; 20-year-old Jason Middlebrook, his 19-year-old brother and a second 19-year-old.
Court documents allege the older Middlebrook was supplying cocaine at Tregear when they were arrested.
Middlebrook’s younger brother was taken to hospital under police guard with a stab wound to his left buttock and is expected to be charged.
The other 19-year-old was released.
Middlebrook appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Monday in a black and red Nike singlet with shaved ginger hair and beard.
He is charged with drug supply and reckless wounding of one man while in company.
The court heard Middlebrook has a previous charge of take and detain person and was serving a corrective order when the latest offences allegedly occurred.
Middlebrook told police he was approached at the train station by a group of 10 drunk men, his legal aid lawyer, John Vitaliotis, said.
The group “surrounded” the Middlebrooks, the lawyer told the court, and that’s when the younger brother was stabbed.
“I accept the defendant has put forward a self defence alibi, however it doesn’t stop the fact he was present with a knife on his person and has significant charges behind him,” the registrar said.
She denied Middlebrook’s request for bail as he briefly smiled down the audiovisual link, shrugged and left the room.
Middlebrook’s father arrived at the courthouse minutes after his son was taken back to the cells.
Outside court he refused to comment before saying he “didn’t know” what his boys had been doing that night but they weren’t dangerous and had “never been in trouble”.
Middlebrook is expected before Penrith Local Court on January 29.