Accused in court over multiple stabbings during Australia Day weekend
A man has faced court accused of stabbing another man on the Australia Day long weekend, causing injuries so severe the knife only narrowly missed his heart.
The Wagga News
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A 20-year-old man has fronted court accused of arming himself with two knives to stab another man multiple times during the Australia Day weekend.
Joel Reid, 20, appeared via videolink in Wagga Local Court today charged with one count of wounding a person intending to cause grievous bodily harm.
Mr Reid, of Ashmont, has not entered a plea.
The court today heard he allegedly armed himself with the knives to confront then stab the other man outside an Ashmont house about midnight on January 25.
The man tried to defend himself but collapsed from the stab wounds and was left bloodied before the ambulance arrived.
The court heard that the man sustained deep wounds, narrowly missing his heart.
During Mr Reid’s bail application today, police prosecutor Sergeant Jason Tozer opposed, saying there are “extreme concerns” with the accused.
Sergeant Tozer cited potential failure to appear due to his history of non-compliance, breaches of apprehended violence orders, potential to commit further offences and being a danger to the person identified as the victim.
“Mr Reid has a very concerning history of violence,” Sergeant Tozer said.
“The likelihood of a custodial sentence here, your honour, is almost a forgone conclusion.”
Defence solicitor Marie-Clare Tabuteau from Legal Aid argued that there were no concerns about failure to appear.
“He went down to the police station and handed himself in,” Ms Tabuteau said.
“Mr Reid is prepared to report daily (to police).”
She also cited Mr Reid’s community ties, youth and mental health issues, particularly his need to treat his depression on why he should be given bail.
Magistrate Christopher Halburd said the Crown’s case was strong and that a jail sentence was likely given he was already serving an intensive corrections order at the time of the alleged offences.
“The defendant has a fairly limited but very serious criminal history,” Mr Halburd said.
“The nature of the (alleged) offence is very serious, made perfectly plain by the fact that the offence carries 25 years in jail.”
Mr Reid is scheduled to reappear in court on March 25.
A brief of evidence will be served on the Legal Aid Commission beforehand.