Steven Galuak allegedly nearly cut off Dandenong homeowner’s fingers after attacking him with a knife
A man who was on bail for an alleged attempted burglary is accused of breaking into a Dandenong unit. He then allegedly picked up a kitchen knife and butchered the homeowner’s hand.
South East
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An accused burglar allegedly attacked a homeowner with a knife — badly slashing his fingers — after he caught him trying to steal from his Dandenong unit.
Steven Galuak is alleged to have repeatedly thrust a large kitchen knife at the man, causing severe lacerations to his right hand, before he was bundled out of the house.
He was on bail at the time for another attempted aggravated burglary he is alleged to have committed four months before.
The unemployed Langwarrin 22-year-old appeared at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to apply for bail over assaults and aggravated burglary charges.
Remand liaison officer Sergeant Chris Marlow told the court police believe Mr Galuak jumped a rear fence of a Dandenong property at around 10.15pm on August 20 this year.
He said Mr Galuak allegedly broke into the unit through a rear door, but made a noise and the homeowner, who was asleep in the lounge, woke up and went to see what the commotion was.
When they came across each other in the kitchen Mr Galuak allegedly picked up a knife and thrusted it at the man, telling him to get back.
A wrestle ensued and the victim allegedly suffered deep cuts to all four fingers on his right hand.
Mr Galuak allegedly dropped his face mask in the fracas, got it back and then fled through the rear door.
The police K9 unit attended and found Mr Galuak in the driveway, allegedly still wearing the face mask with the victim’s blood on it.
The homeowner was taken to Dandenong Hospital to be stitched up.
He still doesn’t have the full use of his hand, will need ongoing surgery and is severely traumatised by the alleged attack.
Police say Mr Galuak told them “100 per cent I did it (the aggravated burglary)”, that he “didn’t care anymore” and he admitted not being at his bailed address at night because “he was bored”.
He is also alleged to have tried to burglarise a Langwarrin house on April 11 this year, but was confronted and held down by the homeowner until police were called.
When officers arrived he is then alleged to have spat on them.
His defence lawyer told the court Mr Galuak acknowledged he was in the Dandenong property but disputed the assault, saying he was “trying to protect himself”.
He said he should be bailed to his family’s home while awaiting a hearing.
But Magistrate Julie O’Donnell was scathing of that submission.
“He has told police he 100 per cent did it, that he didn’t care and he wasn’t living at his address,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“The victim is quite rightly scared.
“The risk of (Mr Galuak) endangering the public could not be higher, he is an unacceptable risk.”
Bail was refused and he was remanded in custody.
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