Owen Buckley pleads guilty after violent Halloween night stabbing in Worrigee

A teenager has admitted to stabbing a man on a busy suburban south coast street on Halloween while young trick-or-treaters watched on.

Owen Buckley, 18, has pleaded guilty to stabbing a man in the leg on River Oak Rd, Worrigee during Halloween festivities.

A teenager has admitted to stabbing a man on Halloween on a south coast street full of young trick-or-treaters, later telling police “I nicked him”.

In Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, Owen Buckley pleaded guilty to stabbing Sean Deaves, 33, in his leg on River Oak Rd, Worrigee, on October 31.

Agreed facts state that Buckley began arguing with Mr Deaves on the street which was busy with Halloween celebrations.

The argument became so intense that Buckley lunged towards the victim, swinging a knife at his stomach and missing him.

Owen Buckley appeared in the Nowra Local Court on Tuesday.

Buckley lunged a second time, slashing Mr Deaves in his leg with the knife.

The 18-year-old left the scene before emergency services arrived, taking Mr Deaves to the Wollongong Hospital for treatment.

A short time later, police received a call stating Buckley was riding a bike nearby.

He was arrested and taken to the Nowra Police Station, where he admitted to the stabbing saying “I nicked him in the leg”.

The court previously heard the stabbing occurred while the Nowra teen was on bail after breaking into the Nowra Central Plaza a week earlier and setting a painted metal railing and plastic packaging on fire.

A man was taken to Wollongong Hospital with a stab wound.

Due to the stabbing occurring while he was on bail, Buckley was placed into custody and refused bail by Magistrate Lisa Viney on November 1.

Buckley was charged with damage or destroy property by fire and enter enclosed property for the Nowra Central Plaza break in and reckless wounding for the Halloween stabbing.

He appeared in court via video link from the South Coast Correctional Centre, pleading guilty to all the charges.

Buckley’s lawyer Emma Harrison said a full sentencing assessment report would need to be completed given her client’s age and the seriousness of the offending.

Ms Viney did not oppose the request.

Buckley will return to court on January 14 for sentencing.

River Oak Rd residents previously told this publication of what they heard during the violent altercation.

One said there were “lots of kids around” at the time, while another said they heard someone yell “I’ve been stabbed, he stabbed me”.

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