Questions raised over case against man charged over alleged stabbing near Australia Fair

A magistrate has raised serious concerns over charges brought against a man for an alleged stabbing near a Gold Coast shopping centre. Read what was said.

Man rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital after alleged stabbing at Australia Fair

A man charged for his alleged role in a Southport stabbing in which a man was found with a life-threatening chest wound in a shopping centre toilet, has been granted bail.

Paul James Sloan appeared via video link in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning charged with grievous bodily harm over the alleged wounding at Australia Fair on August 30.

“Both the co-accused and the defendant (Mr Sloan) attended a location and the defendant was armed with a plank of wood,” police prosecutor, Senior Constable Matthew Thompson told the court during the bail hearing.

“His co-offender was armed with a knife. The defendant has swung the plank of wood at the victim.

“This was followed up by the co-accused who has then lunged forward and stabbed (the victim).”

A man taken by stretcher to an ambulance at the crime scene in Australia Fair.

Mr Sloan’s solicitor, Ashkan Tai, told the court there was no evidence his client was aware his co-accused was allegedly armed with a knife. He pointed-out that the 42-year-old victim, who sustained a stab wound to his chest, which nicked his heart, had not made an official complaint to police over the incident.

That revelation brought the case against Mr Sloan into question from Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson.

“Where is your case?” Magistrate Thompson asked the prosecution.

“How does the prosecution continue without the complainant? And how does the defendant get a fair trial if the complainant can’t be cross-examined? And there’s potential defenses that may arise.”

The prosecution argued an official complaint from the victim was not required due to the nature of injuries sustained and CCTV footage which depicted the entire incident.

Magistrate Thompson granted the bail application but removed conditions requiring Mr Sloan to wear a GPS tracker and preventing him from travelling interstate.

“It sounds to me like it (the case) may go absolutely nowhere,” Magistrate Thompson said.

“I’m not putting a tracker on somebody where it’s a prosecution that may well fail at the first hurdle.”

Mr Sloan was released from custody to reside in Bilambil Heights, Northern New South Wales.

He is due to reappear in court on October 31.