David Turnbull pleads guilty to stabbing Bendigo dad in the neck

A young Bendigo dad thought he was “going to die” after his mate stabbed him in the neck in a violent rage because he turned the volume up on the radio in a taxi.

David Turnbull outside Bendigo Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to stabbing his mate in the neck because he turned up the volume on the radio in a taxi

A violent Bendigo thug stabbed his mate in the neck because he turned the volume up on the radio in a taxi during a night out.

David Turnbull, 28, pleaded guilty at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to intentionally causing serious injury.

The court heard Turnbull, then 26, the victim and several others were enjoying a night out on the town in Bendigo on September 3, 2023.

While they were in a taxi driving to another location, an argument started between Turnbull and the victim because he turned the volume up on the radio.

David Turnbull stabbed his friend in the neck at a Marong Rd, Ironbark address in Bendigo.

Unprovoked, Turnbull smacked the victim in the face and continued to be aggressive towards the victim.

When the group arrived at an address on Marong Rd, Ironbark, Turnbull dragged the victim out of the car and a fight ensued.

The court heard Turnbull and the victim had been friends for nearly six years when he plunged a pocket knife into his mate’s neck.

Witnesses tried to stop the bleeding as they rushed to get him into a car and take him to the hospital, but he “slumped” onto the nature strip unconscious.

The victim said he had “never been so scared” and thought he was going to die.

David Turnbull outside Bendigo Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to stabbing his mate in the neck because he turned up the volume on the radio in a taxi

Emergency services arrived and he was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

“At the time I thought I was going to die. I really thought that was it,” he said.

The victim said he was terrified he would never see his son again – a 10-month-old baby at the time.

“He could have grown up without a dad,” the victim said.

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Turnbull was arrested the next day, made a “no comment” interview and released on bail.

The victim slammed the justice system for allowing his attacker to walk free on bail for more than a year.

“The guy who tried to kill me is out walking around and he doesn’t seem to have any consequences,” he said.

“I didn’t think you could stab someone and then be allowed off in the community.”

Turnbull’s lawyer said the victim was entitled to feel “a little bit upset” that the man who stabbed him could move to Melbourne and move on with his life, while the victim was left with lifelong injuries.

The court heard Turnbull came from a good family and it “never should have happened”.

Turnbull’s father was a school teacher for 22 years and his parents now owned and operated a business that had “gone national”, his lawyer said.

With the support of his affluent family — who own and operate a “national” company — Turnbull’s lawyer told the court the stabber had used his time on bail productively, completing two anger management courses, seeing a psychologist, and remaining abstinent from alcohol.

In arguing for no jail time, the lawyer said Turnbull had expressed remorse and “shame” for his actions.

Turnbull’s lawyer argued prison would be “a challenge” due to mental health issues and rehabilitation should be the main factor in sentencing.

The prosecution argued Turnbull had showed no remorse, shifting blame for the stabbing onto the victim in several reports which showed a “denial of responsibility”.

The court heard Turnbull had a history of bad behaviour while drinking, previously being charged with assault for spitting on people while intoxicated.

Magistrate Jarrod Williams said “the line between this and a homicide was thin”.

“It’s very fortunate that is not what happened here,” he said.

Turnbull was assessed for a community corrections order, but was facing prison time, the court heard.

Turnbull will be sentenced in May and remains free on bail.

Turnbull was ordered to pay his victim’s ambulance fees of $2000.