Owen Buckley: Nowra teen charged after alleged Halloween stabbing

A teenager has been refused bail after allegedly stabbing a man in the leg on the NSW south coast as young trick or treaters watched on.

An 18-year-old man has been charged over an alleged stabbing on the state’s south coast. Picture: iStock

A teenager has claimed he was acting in self defence when he allegedly stabbed a man on a suburban south coast street while young trick-or-treaters watched on, a court has heard.

Owen Buckley, 18, appeared in the Nowra Local Court on Friday – one day after the teen allegedly stabbed a man in the leg on River Oak Rd, Worrigee during Halloween festivities.

The Nowra teen applied for bail during his appearance, after being charged with reckless wounding. He is yet to enter pleas.

Police allege Buckley was riding a bike along the suburban street with friends when he allegedly got into a verbal, then physical altercation with a 33-year-old man who was driving a car along the same street.

The alleged stabbing occurred in River Oak Rd, Worrigee.

The court heard the alleged altercation between the pair became so hostile that the 18-year-allegedly stabbed the driver in his leg.

The court also heard how Buckley contacted police and emergency services, labelling the stabbing “self defence”.

The 33-year-old man was assessed by paramedics before he was rushed to Wollongong Hospital for treatment.

Buckley was arrested and taken to the Nowra Police Station, where he was charged.

The teen’s lawyer, Stephanie Fowler, said her client’s mental health issues and young age needed to be considered.

However, the prosecutor said Buckley’s criminal history was already too serious, with the alleged offence breaking his bail conditions issued on October 24, one day after the Nowra teen allegedly damaged someone’s property by fire.

The offence saw Buckley charged with damage or destroy property by fire and enter enclosed property. He is yet to enter pleas to these offences.

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

“[Buckley] does have a limited history, but it is one that is escalating quickly,” Magistrate Lisa Viney said.

Despite Ms Fowler’s submission that her client would adhere to strict bail conditions, Ms Viney said he had already shown this was not the case.

“He broke bail eight days after it was granted with these new allegations,” she said.

Buckley’s bail was refused and his case was adjourned to November 19.

However, he will return to court on November 12 for his destroy or damage property allegations.

River Oak Rd resident, Don Smith, told this publication there were “lots of kids” around when the alleged stabbing occurred.

The alleged incident happened in front of children trick or treating.

“It’s such a small, quiet street and when I drove up, there were a lot of police cars, a lot of police tape,” he said.

“I thought someone had been murdered.”

Mr Smith said the incident “ruined” the night for kids trick-or-treating.

“This put a stop to their fun pretty quick.”

Meanwhile, Liam Brandon, who lived exactly next to where the alleged stabbing took place, said he heard “lots of shouting and screaming”.

“We had just given lollies to some kids and went back inside and we hear someone yell out ‘I’ve been stabbed, he stabbed me’,” he said.

“It wasn’t long after that until police were taping off the area, all the kids had to leave, it was all just a mess.”