Michel Tillman in court for Surfers Paradise attempted murder of Troy Kiss more than a decade ago

A man stabbed in a Gold Coast street more than a decade ago has recalled in court salsa being thrown, his eyes being gouged and then being stabbed. Read the latest from court.

Ex-snooker champion Michael Tillman with police at the Gold Coast Airport. Picture Glenn Hampson

A man stabbed in the middle of a Gold Coast street more than a decade ago has recalled in court he remembers salsa being thrown, his eyes being gouged and then being stabbed.

Troy Kiss had waited 10 years to give evidence after ex-snooker player Michael Davison Tillman fled the Gold Coast during a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court in September, 2011.

Tillman faces attempted murder and assault occasioning bodily harm charges for allegedly attacking Mr Kiss at Circle of Cavill in Surfers Paradise on September 17, 2010.

The committal hearing was put on hold in 2010 while police searched for Tillman.

He handed himself into police in January this year, more than 10 years later, the court was told.

Ex-snooker champion Michael Tillman with police at the Gold Coast Airport. Picture Glenn Hampson

On Wednesday, the court resumed the committal hearing with the final witness – Mr Kiss – giving evidence.

Mr Kiss appeared via videolink and told the court how he had went to Tillman’s Surfers Paradise unit for pre-drinks before the opening of then-Vanity Nightclub – now The Bedroom – on September 16, 2010.

He said they were at the unit for two hours before they went to the opening at 8pm.

After the opening Mr Kiss, Tillman and other friends went to ex-nightclub mogul Jamie Pickering’s home, the court heard.

“The time I realised Michael (Tillman) and (friend) Trevor (Markham) were really drunk and they were taking off their shirts,” he said.

“And I seen tomato salsa being thrown.”

Mr Kiss also said he remembered Tillman and Markham wrestling. When asked if other food from the fridge was being thrown Mr Kiss said he could not remember.

“I didn’t feel comfortable really, it was getting a bit loose,” he said.

Mr Kiss was also questioned extensively on what he had told a mutual female friend about Tillman.

Michael Tillman is accused of attempted murder over a Surfers Paradise stabbing in 2011.

He denied saying anything to the woman about Tillman.

Tillman’s barrister Simon Lewis, instructed by Bamberry Lawyers, read a portion of a conversation in a statement.

“You said (to Tillman), ‘Are you all right mate?’. He said ‘Are you kidding me, you are smarter than that’,” Mr Lewis said.

Mr Kiss said he remembered the conversation.

“I do remember because that was when he dragged me and tried to kill me,” he told the court.

Mr Kiss denied throwing the first punch.

He described how Tillman eye gouged him before he was able to escape downstairs with the help of Mr Markham.

Mr Kiss told the court Mr Markham “saved him” despite being a close friend of Tillman.

He said he then went to go back upstairs because he was worried about a female friend.

She met him downstairs and was soon followed by Tillman, Mr Kiss told the court.

Troy Kiss – then 23 – was stabbed by his best friend at Circle on Cavill after a night out in Surfers Paradise in September 2010.

“I waited and he came down and he is running and I didn’t see a knife,” Mr Kiss said, adding through the entire thing he “didn’t throw one single punch”.

After the evidence, Mr Lewis said Tillman consented to the matter being committed to trial.

When asked by Magistrate Janice Crawford if he had anything to say, Tillman replied: “No thank you, Your Honour”.

A trial will take place in the Brisbane Supreme Court in coming months.

Immediately following the committal, Tillman pleaded guilty to breaching bail and two counts of failing to appear in court.

All those matters related to Tillman fleeing during the committal hearing in 2010.

Prosecutor Andreea Iordache said: “Substantial resources have gone into apprehending Tillman and that should be taken into account.”

Defence lawyer Sam Jackson pointed out that Tillman had surrendered into custody.

Magistrate Crawford fined Tillman $450. No conviction was recorded.

She said she took into account that Tillman had been in custody since he surrendered in January.

Follow @leae