Mark Coughlan cleared of stabbing Robert Stewart at Camelia Grove Hotel Alexandria
A man cleared of stabbing his drinking buddy, 82, over an unpaid drinking tab is weighing his legal options after, he said, he lost nine months of his life before the charges were dropped.
NSW
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A man who spent months behind bars before being cleared of stabbing his elderly drinking buddy in a pub lunch gone horribly wrong is considering legal action saying he was portrayed as a “knife-wielding maniac”.
Mark Coughlan had just collected his steak and chips from the Camelia Grove Hotel bistro in Alexandria when 82-year-old Robert Stewart confronted him over an unpaid bar tab.
Mr Coughlan’s lunch fell to the ground and Mr Stewart staggered back clutching his chest.
Neither man seemed to immediately realise the steak knife, which Mr Coughlan was holding in one hand, had plunged into Mr Stewart’s chest in the scuffle.
Mr Coughlan stormed out of the pub as patrons rushed to help Mr Stewart. The knife had lacerated the right ventricle in his heart, court documents state.
He was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for emergency surgery.
Mr Stewart told police Mr Coughlan was responsible for the stabbing and it was because he “didn’t buy a beer”, the court heard.
Mr Coughlan was arrested and charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was refused bail because of his criminal history, including assault and resisting police.
Prosecutors withdrew the charges last week and Mr Coughlan was freed. He told The Daily Telegraph he’s upset he spent nine months in jail.
“I was portrayed as a knife-wielding maniac when all I was doing was simply about to dig into my steak,” he said.
Mr Coughlan’s legal team has filed for police to pay his bills.