Man suffering multiple stab wounds who stumbled into eatery had a knife attack charge dropped

A man who staggered into a restaurant “bleeding everywhere” with stab wounds in front of shocked diners was charged over a knife attack last year - only to have the charge later dropped

A MAN who staggered into a Gold Coast restaurant “bleeding everywhere” with stab wounds in front of shocked diners was himself charged over a knife attack only last year.

Matthew Walker, 31, was rushed to hospital on Wednesday night in a critical condition after stumbling into Som Tam Gai restaurant at Mermaid Beach just before 8pm.

Walker was charged last year with stabbing a man with a kitchen knife in a Surfers Paradise unit before the charge was later dropped.

Police at the time said the 46-year-old man suffered a 2cm puncture wound.

Walker was charged with unlawful wounding, wilful damage, common assault and entering a premises to commit an indictable offence.

The wounding charge was later dropped but Walker is due to face Southport Magistrates Court next month over the other charges as well as unrelated matters. Walker is engaged in adult restorative justice mediation on the remaining charges, with a court appearance listed for September 20. It’s unknown whether he’s entered any guilty pleas or not.

On Wednesday night, Walker suffered lacerations to the neck, chest and abdomen before stumbling into Som Tam Gai.

Som Tam Gai owner Dasche Goodwin said he was “bleeding everywhere” and it “freaked everyone out”.

Mr Goodwin was “picking up the pieces”, he said.

Mermaid Beach restaurant Som Tam Gai. Picture: Instagram.

“It’s the last thing we need. It is hard enough to run a restaurant as it is,” he said.

“I wasn’t in the restaurant at the time but it’s easy to understand why staff and diners would be shaken up.

“I was told the man walked into the restaurant bleeding everywhere. It’s extremely upsetting.”

Som Tam Gai is in the Mermaid Beach Village shopping complex on the Gold Coast Highway.

Walker was allegedly hostile and uncooperative with police, according to police. But he has not been charged over the restaurant drama.

On Wednesday, the restaurant posted on its social media: “Closed today due to unforseen circumstances. Re-opening and back to normal tomorrow. Thank you for the support.”

The venue was closed on Wednesday. Picture: Sam Stolz

The Bulletin spoke to a number of business owners in the area, who said they were either closed or had not witnessed the incident.

Mermaid Beach residents expressed their concern over the large police presence, posting to a Facebook community group: “Anyone know what’s happening at the shops near Markeri St. So many police cars and ambulances.”

“Just passed by, never seen (sic) so many cop cars like this before, there’s something really serious going on I believe,” wrote Vinicius Xavier.

Christina Sinclair posted: “I hope he is OK, but more importantly I hope that the beautiful staff at my favourite Thai restaurant are ok after this experience.”

The man was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition suffering from wounds to his neck, chest and abdomen, Queensland Ambulance Service stated.

The ambulance service’s High Acuity Response Unit and critical care paramedics were involved.

Police have not yet been able to determine how the man suffered the wounds or the location he was injured.

Sergeant Brendan Wiblen said: “The man may have been stabbed somewhere else and has attended the restaurant for assistance.”

Police established a crime scene in Mermaid Beach on the corner of Gold Coast Highway and Alfred street.

“The nature of the blood trails on the ground have identified a number of issues with identifying the scene of this stabbing,” he told 9 News.

Investigations are ongoing.

Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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