Patrick Earle: Irishman claims he tried to help Oliver Solan by dragging him
A man who dragged an alleged stab victim through a hallway before fleeing has told a court he was trying to help the badly injured man. However, prosecutors have alleged his actions were consistent with him instead “trying to dispose of” the man who was “bleeding out” and barely moving.
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- John Dunlea, Patrick Earle: New alleged details in Randwick stabbing
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An Irish national allegedly caught on CCTV footage dragging a bloodied man with horrific stab wounds out of a lift and down a hallway has told a court he was trying to help him.
Four Irish nationals have been arrested and charged over the stabbing attack inside a Young St unit in Randwick on the night of Saturday, August 29.
That includes couple Patrick Earle, 23, and Katie Murtagh, 26, who lived at the address and were allegedly involved in the incident which left the alleged victim Oliver Solan, 30, with horror injuries including a disfigured ear and a punctured spleen which later had to be removed.
Murtagh has been charged with aid and abet to wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and remains in custody.
Earle was back in court on Tuesday and applied for bail.
The court heard Earle and his partner were at home with the victim that evening when an altercation allegedly began between the victim and Earle.
Dunlea and Morrison have been charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Earle suffered a dislocated arm and cuts to his head and allegedly contacted a friend for help, John Dunlea.
Three Irishmen Dunlea, Patrick Farrell and Christopher Morrison arrived at the apartment complex about 8.30pm and police will allege they were let in by Murtagh. Police will allege the victim was then stabbed multiple times.
During Earle’s bail application on Tuesday, a chilling video was played in court showing the moments after the alleged stabbing, from a lift lobby inside the apartment complex.
Three men can be seen in the CCTV footage fleeing the building in the background after racing down some stairs.
Earle can then be seen leaving the lift with the victim slouched behind him on the floor of the lift covered in blood and barely moving.
Earle is then seen to grab the back of the victim’s hoodie before dragging him out of the lift and down the hallway toward the building exit leaving behind a trail of blood.
The prosecutor argued the way Earle handled the victim was consistent with him “trying to dispose of the person”.
“The manner in which he is removed and dragged down the hallway, while (the victim) resisted, that is not an attempt to assist or render aide to the victim,” she said.
She also stated Earle had a history of violence having been sentenced for a separate assault offence in January.
Earle’s lawyer argued that his client was in fact trying to help the victim by dragging him toward the front of the building where paramedics could assist him.
“Before (fleeing) he placed himself at a high risk of being apprehended and importantly dragged (the victim) downstairs into the foyer so that emergency services could treat him as soon as they arrived,” he said.
“When he saw he was bleeding out he went out of his way to get him into the public view.”
He said it made no sense that he was trying to dispose or conceal the crime as there were cameras inside the building and he left a blood trail from his unit to the foyer.
Earle’s lawyer also alleged that his client had been “savagely” attacked by the victim earlier in the night, and there was no evidence suggested in the police facts of his client being the person who stabbed the victim.
Magistrate Jacqueline Trad said it was not conclusive whether Earle was trying to dispose of the victim or to help the victim after watching the footage.
However, she said there remained an unacceptable risk of Earle committing a further offence or interfering with co-accused and evidence if he was released, and formally refused his bail.
Earle is currently facing one charge of wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The court also heard police were intending on charging Earle with further offences related to serious drug matters.
Police are still searching for the fifth person allegedly involved in the attack believed to be Irish national Patrick Farrell. Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you know of his whereabouts.