Paul Raymond Close, 66, charged with stabbing two men at Highland Park Shopping Plaza

An argument over a parking space at a suburban Gold Coast shopping centre ended with two men being stabbed, police allege. It comes as the man charged faces court. READ THE LATEST

A man accused of stabbing one man in the back and slashing another across the face in an argument over a parking space has vowed to fight the charges.

Officers swarmed the Highland Park Shopping Plaza car park at about 8pm Saturday after the alleged attack on the two men, aged 31 and 42.

The two Highland Park men were transported to Gold Coast University Hospital with minor injuries.

Their alleged attacker Paul Raymond Close, 66, was taken into custody. He has since been charged with two counts of wounding and one of possessing a knife in a public place.

Paul Raymond Close leaving the Southport watchhouse after being granted bail. Picture: Jessica Paul

Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said police believed a “trivial” dispute over a carparking space had sparked the altercation.

“At 8pm on Saturday we had an incident at the Highland Park Plaza, an incident involving a 66-year-old male and another two males who were unknown to him. They got into an altercation over a parking space,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“Subsequently the 66-year-old male has allegedly decided to stab one of the males in the back and slash the other one across the face with a knife.”

Chief Supt Hanlon said police wished to remind the community that violence was “not the way to solve problems”.

“Our understanding is it was over a carparking space,” he said.

Highland Park alleged stabbing. Picture: Andrew Correa

“We’re talking at 8pm at night. I haven’t been to Highland Park for a while, but I’m guessing at 8pm at night there are a lot of car parks.

“ … Luckily, at Highland Park these two people were not seriously injured but we have to tell the community out there, violence is not the way to solve your issues or your concerns with other people.”

Mr Close remained in custody until facing Southport Magistrates Court on Monday morning, where he successfully applied for bail.

Paul Raymond Close leaving the Southport watchhouse after being granted bail. Picture: Jessica Paul

The court was told the Highland Park man had health concerns and that there appeared to be scope for “significant” case conferencing moving forward.

Magistrate Janice Crawford ordered that Mr Close must remain at the same address and have no contact with his alleged victims as conditions of his bail.

Speaking outside the Southport watchhouse after his release, Mr Close said he would fight the charges and strenuously denied the stabbing allegations.

“Of course not – why would anybody want to do that? It’s ridiculous,” he said.

His case is due to return to court on April 9.