‘All he can remember is people panicking’: Elizabeth Downs stabbing victim wakes from coma

An “innocent” father of five stabbed in a brutal love-triangle attack is recovering, as his brother-in-law reveals his first words after waking from a coma. See the video.

The “innocent” victim of a brutal stabbing prompted by a messy love-triangle revenge attack in Elizabeth Downs, remains in hospital but is on the road to recovery, a family member revealed.

Stabbing victim Emmanuel Musengimana has woken from an induced coma after a horrific attack on Sunday night that left the 35-year-old with life-threatening injuries.

Mr Musengimana’s brother-in-law Jackson Bamvuga on Tuesday told The Advertiser the stabbing victim is showing signs of improvement.

“I just came out from his room where he’s sleeping and they just took a drainer out,” Mr Bamvuga, 35, said.

A father repeatedly stabbed and left to die at Elizabeth Downs has described the brutal attack from his hospital bed. The seriously injured victim says he tried to defend himself but was outnumbered by an armed gang. https://t.co/[e-mail]/f5L5oGY0C2

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) September 19, 2023

Stabbing victim Emmanuel Musengimana has woken from an induced coma. Picture: 7News

Stabbing victim Emmanuel Musengimana at Royal Adelaide Hospital following violent incident at Elizabeth Downs. Picture 7News

Eugenia Nzeyrimana (right), the sister of the stabbing victim Emmanuel Musengimana, at the scene with husband Jackson Bamvuga, and other family members. Picture: Dean Martin

“There was internal bleeding so they had to drain it out.”

Mr Bamvuga said the doctors at the Royal Adelaide Hospital told him “he’s going to recover” and Mr Musengimana may even be discharged “by the weekend”.

Mr Bamvuga said his brother-in-law “doesn’t speak much as he’s not that strong yet” but in the short conversations they had, Mr Musengimana had trouble recalling the incident that put him in hospital.

“He can’t remember anything and all he can remember is people panicking,” Mr Bamvuga said. “He doesn’t remember what happened next.”

Emergency services were called to Justinian Street and found Mr Musengimana with stab wounds to his chest and arm on Sunday night.

He was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital for surgery and was placed on a ventilator.

Elizabeth Downs stabbing victim Emmanuel Musengimana. Picture: Supplied

A woman at the Elizabeth Downs property said stabbing victim Emmanuel Musengimana was a unwitting victim – and she was the target. Picture: Dean Martin

Two young children were playing with toy building blocks a few feet away from the dried stain on Tuesday afternoon.

A man in his 20s told The Advertiser that “Sarah” did not wish to speak at the time.

Neighbour Kyle, 30, has lived on the street for ten years and said he called triple-0 after he heard screaming from the house where Mr Musenginama was stabbed.

The house where the attack took place. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

“They act like they own the streets and just terrorise the neighbourhood.

“They’re just carrying on and making noise and making insults at people … and then they were like smashing beer bottles and glass near the driveways.”

He told The Advertiser police have previously been called to the property at least three times in the past year and a half.

“It’s pretty unsettling … I’m thinking about moving somewhere else,” he said. “It’s just the area, there’s not really much you can do about it.”

A woman at the address, who asked to remain anonymous, on Monday claims she was the intended victim of the attack, not Mr Musengimana, who was “an innocent bystander”.

She says the irate group of six men and two men “wearing ski masks and dressed in black” arrived at the property to confront her about a relationship with an unnamed man, but she refused to come outside.

The group then turned on Mr Musengimana who was outside having a cigarette.

Northern District CIB detectives and crime scene investigators attended the scene and doorknocked the area. Investigations are continuing.

Police are not investigating whether the attack was “gang-related” at this stage.

Originally published as ‘All he can remember is people panicking’: Elizabeth Downs stabbing victim wakes from coma