Martin Ashly Chatfield refused bail for alleged knife attack in Canberra

Police allege an unemployed Canberra man was ‘on a mission’ when he barged into his former partner’s home with a knife and attacked during three minutes of mayhem.

Martin Ashly Chatfield applied for bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on September 8. Picture: Gary Ramage

An unemployed Richardson man has been denied bail to attend a funeral while facing allegations he sliced a man’s fingers during a disturbing burglary at his former girlfriend’s home.

Martin Ashly Chatfield will instead have to watch his relative’s funeral via livestream after being remanded in custody on 12 charges including two counts of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm and aggravated burglary.

Documents tendered to the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday revealed Chatfield was speaking with his former partner in early July, with the pair exchanging texts about him giving her cigarettes on July 2.

In the early hours of July 3 she replied and said she needed sleep and didn’t need the cigarettes anymore, however the Richardson man came to her home.

Police say Chatfield allegedly barged into the home and attacked the woman and a man who was under a blanket.

ACT Magistrates Court generic. Picture: Gary Ramage

Court documents allege Chatfield attacked the man with a knife with the woman witnessing her former partner “slice” her male friend’s hands.

The court documents state the alleged victim tried to throw a vase over Chatfield’s head but she missed. The Richardson man then allegedly punched the woman in the face before he fled the scene after three minutes of alleged mayhem.

Paramedics revealed to police the male victim’s finger was partially amputated and needed emergency surgery in hospital.

The male victim described his injuries to police which included his right ring finger “hanging on by a thread”, a “shredded” middle finger, how he had a “chunk” out of his left wrist along with a “slice to his right cheek”.

The man described Chatfield’s alleged actions, according to the police facts, as “being on a mission”.

Police tracked the Richardson man down to a service station in Belconnen on July 6, where he allegedly attacked two officers before he was arrested.

In court on Friday, defence lawyer Sam Lynch said he was proposing a bail application for one day to allow Chatfield to go a relative’s funeral in Tumut.

Magistrate Glenn Theakston said however it was not uncommon to livestream a funeral, pointing to the “so very serious” allegations Chatfield was facing.

Chatfield’s bail was refused and had his matters adjourned to a later date.