Christopher Staines pleads guilty to affray in alleged 7-Eleven stabbing at the Entrance

One of three men charged over an alleged stabbing at The Entrance 7-Eleven has pleaded guilty to affray, later telling police he was “defending my girlfriend”, a court has heard.

One of three men involved in the alleged stabbing of a man at a 7-Eleven service station will be sentenced in July after pleading guilty to affray.

Christopher Staines, 20, was excused from appearing at Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where his solicitor formally entered a guilty plea, while another charge of common assault was withdrawn and dismissed.

An agreed set of facts states Staines entered the 7-Eleven shortly after 4am on October 5 last year with his girlfriend and another woman to purchase Red Bull and other drinks to mix with their alcohol.

Christopher Staines arriving at Wyong Local Court at a previous appearance after an alleged fight and stabbing at The Entrance on October 5 last year. Picture: News Local

Two other men, Jaxon Dean Wells, 19, and Robert George Ronald Dick, 20, also attended the service station with Mr Dick stopping to relieve himself in a nearby garden bed.

Inside the store the victim, aged 28 at the time, was waiting at the counter when he turned to Staines and said “what the f..k is your problem, what are you looking at me like that?” to which Staines responded “nothing”.

Staines and the women walked to the rear of the store while the victim remained at the counter.

“The victim approached Staines and said `mate, do we have a problem?’ to which Staines responded “No’. The victim then held out his hand and shook Staines’ hand before saying `sorry mate all good, I’m leaving’,” the facts state.”

Jaxon Wells outside Wyong Local Court at a previous appearance. Picture: News Local

As this was happening the two women were yelling at the victim.

The facts allege Mr Wells ran up to Mr Dick, while he was urinating, and asked him for a small folding pocket knife Mr Dick allegedly had on him for the purposes of “chopping up weed” before both entered the store.

“Wells pulled a knife that was concealed in his shorts, held it in his right hand and said to the victim again, `what c..t’,” the facts allege.

“At the same time Dick is seen pulling up the sleeves on his jumper and clenching his fists in a fighting stance. The victim responded, ‘I’m not scared mate’.”

Robert Dick, 20, of Berkeley Vale, (left) and Christopher Staines, 19, of Berkeley Vale, have faced Wyong Local Court charged with affray. Picture: Facebook

After the victim called one of the women a “mutt” Mr Dick approached and allegedly punched him with a closed fist to the left side of his face. At the same time Wells lunged towards the victim and allegedly swung the knife towards the upper side of his chest.

“As a result, the victim `felt immediate pain’ and knew he had been stabbed,” the facts state.

Mr Dick allegedly kicked the victim’s upper body before the victim tackled him to the ground where Mr Wells allegedly stabbed him a second time under the left arm.

Staines then grabbed the victim around the upper part of his body and pulled him to the ground, where they wrestled for a short period of time.

“The victim got to his feet and threw a punch at Staines, which connected with Staines’ nose,” the facts state.

“The victim threw objects at his attackers before they left the store.”

After NSW Police released this still from CCTV footage following the alleged stabbing, Mr Dick and Staines presented to Wyong Police Station. Picture: supplied

The victim was rushed to John Hunter Hospital where he was classified as “immediate life threatening” upon arrival for emergency surgery.

He had two stab wounds to the chest, a clipped thoracodorsal artery and had lost up to one litre of blood.

A week later Mr Dick and Staines presented to Wyong Police Station after seeing their images posted on the NSW Police Facebook page.

Staines told police when the victim called his girlfriend a “mutt” he “lost it and was defending my girlfriend in my eyes”.

Christopher Staines pictured leaving Wyong Court Tuesday at an earlier appearance. Photo: Sue Graham

Staines told police the night started out with a barbecue and drinks at the house he and Mr Dick shared and he had only met Mr Wells recently.

He said after they left the service station they hid out down at the lake for a while where they were “freaking out” and he later threw out the clothes he was wearing on the night.

The following day police attended Mr Well’s residence at Chittaway Point where he was arrested and later charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He has not entered a plea and returns to court on June 8.

Mr Dick was charged with affray, common assault and having custody of a knife in a public place.

He too has not entered an pleas and returns to court on the same date.

Staines, meanwhile, will be sentenced on July 2.