Search for Jack Steven’s stabber continues despite footy star’s silence
Police will keep digging for who stabbed Geelong’s Jack Steven, despite the AFL star continuing to shirk detectives working to piece together his attack. Here’s the latest.
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Police will keep digging for answers over who stabbed Geelong’s Jack Steven.
The AFL star has continued to shirk detectives working to piece together the ins and outs of the stabbing at the weekend.
Given the seriousness of Steven’s injuries, police cannot easily close the case based on his apparent willingness not to speak.
But his refusal to provide a statement of events significantly hampers the investigation.
The 30-year-old is believed to have been attacked by someone he knows but investigators cannot draw conclusions without his co-operation.
A police source said: “Nothing forces a victim to make a statement and report a matter but you can impede an investigation by not talking.”
Hours before the stabbing Steven dropped his young daughter, Maggie, at the Brighton East home of his former partner, Indiana Beresford.
The pair lived together at the home until their separation more than a year ago.
Neighbours said Steven was accompanied by a woman, believed to be his new girlfriend Marley Gordon.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting either woman was involved in the stabbing, just that he saw both the day of the attack.
Ms Beresford did not answer the door when approached by the Herald Sun.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said Steven was the “victim of something serious” but was expected to return to the club within days.
He warned people against linking the player’s previous mental health battles to the stabbing.
Steven came close to walking away from the game last year as he dealt with mental health issues, playing just seven games for St Kilda in 2019.
“I get the feeling that some people want to roll some of the previous problems that Jack has had into this current situation and I would caution against that. They are two separate issues,” Scott said.
“My sense is that some feel Jack might have some sort of case to answer here. I haven’t seen or heard any information that would imply that.”
The AFL is expected to begin an investigation when the police finalise their work.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman on Thursday said the investigation into the stabbing was ongoing.
Steven was discharged from The Alfred hospital on Tuesday after arriving at Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne at about 1am on Sunday with a stab wound.
He required surgery to repair the injury under his right thoracic duct in his chest.
Scott said he didn’t think Steven should have to explain the circumstances of what happened to be cleared to play again but more clarity would help the club assist him moving forward.
“We’d like to know the circumstances only so we can help him, so he can help us. Those two things go together really clearly,” he said.
Steven, who grew up in Lorne, was granted his wish to be traded to Geelong after 11 seasons at St Kilda where he played 183 games and won four best and fairest awards.
Steven declined to comment when called on Thursday.