Sonny Attard refused bail after alleged Brighton Le Sands hijacking
Police say a man who left a Sydney emergency department and allegedly stabbed a woman in the face and neck after hijacking her car last week has a long history of violence, property damage and drug offences.
Police say a man who left a Sydney emergency department and allegedly stabbed a woman in the face and neck after hijacking her car last week has a long history of violence, property damage and drug offences.
Sonny Attard, 25, did not apply for bail before Sutherland Local Court Magistrate Peter Bugden during a bedside hearing at St George Hospital, where he has remained since the alleged attack on July 9.
Attard left St George Hospital’s emergency department in a hospital gown and allegedly smashed an automatic door before police say he entered a 52-year-old woman’s Toyota Corolla on Ocean St at Kogarah.
Police will allege Attard stabbed the terrified woman in the face and neck with the multipurpose tool as she tried to escape her own car in Brighton-Le-Sands when he demanded she drive him to Maroubra.
The Pyrmont man’s Legal Aid solicitor Mary Underwood did not enter pleas to charges of detaining a person causing actual bodily harm, wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, aggravated assault with intent to take a motor vehicle, property damage, reckless driving and having an expired licence.
He will next face Sutherland Local Court via audiovisual link on October 1.
Court documents reveal police refused Attard bail at St George Hospital on Tuesday prior to his bedside hearing due to the “extreme seriousness” of the alleged offences.
“The accused is known for a myriad of offences involving property, drugs, stealing, domestics, failing to appear at court and breach of bail,” police facts alleged.
“The accused has seriously injured an innocent party with a weapon, driven a vehicle recklessly and endangered many lives.”
The woman was assisted by members of the public and taken to hospital by NSW Paramedics in a serious but stable condition to undergo surgery.
She has since been discharged from St George Hospital.
The chaotic chain of events only came to a conclusion when Attard allegedly hit another car, causing a female driver minor injuries, before slamming violently into a brick wall outside a unit block on President Ave in Monterey.
“He has been arrested in the stolen vehicles only seconds after injuring the victim,” police facts alleged.
“The accused has a lengthy history of violence and the likelihood of a custodial sentence being imposed is strong — in fact, if convicted, will not be in question.”
Attard was placed in an induced coma due to his own injuries after the crash, which left him trapped as nearby residents came to his aid.
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