Gatkouth Gogouk allegedly stabbed person with knife at Villawood detention centre

An immigration detainee allegedly stabbed another person in the neck multiple times using a homemade knife at one of Australia’s immigration detention centres, a court has heard.

Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney's south-west. Picture: Dylan Robinson

An immigration detainee allegedly stabbed another person in the neck multiple times using a homemade knife at one of Australia’s immigration detention centres, a court has heard.

Gatkouth Gogouk, 45, appeared at Bankstown Local Court via audio visual link on Thursday over the charge of wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after he allegedly stabbed someone at Villawood Detention Centre on May 14.

Gogouk’s lawyer said her client had been in detention for a decade after fleeing Sudan which had “had an effect on him”.

“He has no prior criminal conviction … and has the unfortunate circumstances to remain in detention for 10 years,” she said.

Villawood Detention Centre. Picture: Dylan Robinson

The prosecution opposed Gogouk’s release as he has “no place of abode but to go back into the same vicinity as the victim”.

“It would place the victim in an unacceptable risk if he was released (on bail),” the prosecutor said.

Magistrate Glenn Walsh denied the 45 year-old bail as the prosecution had a “strong case” and Gogouk was “likely to be convicted”.

“Facts state there was an attack on another person in immigration detention with a knife being produced which appeared to be home made,” Mr Walsh said.

Mr Walsh read from the facts Gogouk has the intent to cause harm as he inflicted multiple strikes to the victim’s neck with the knife.

He said Gogouk had the risk of endangering other people if he was returned to Villawood Detention Centre and denied him bail.

“It’s not appropriate to have him back at Villawood and attack another person,” he said.

The matter was adjourned to July 10 at Burwood Local Court.