Barber Tony Mirco speaks about alleged stabbing outside his Nightcliff barbershop
A Darwin barber has recounted the chilling moment a panting, breathless man entered his store and produced a knife, before allegedly going on to stab a stranger in the guts outside.
Police & Courts
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Latest – September 12, 2.30pm: A Darwin barber who witnessed the alleged stabbing of a man in the abdomen with a knife says he “hasn’t been able to sleep” since he was forced to drag his wounded client inside the shop while blood oozed from the wound.
NT Police say about 4.20pm Wednesday, a 24-year-old man allegedly assaulted a number of people on Oleander St at Nightcliff, heading towards Nightcliff Village, before stabbing a man in the abdomen.
The alleged stabbing occurred right outside the barbershop owned by Tony Mirco.
Speaking after the reopening of his shop at noon on Thursday, Mr Mirco said he “hasn’t been able to sleep” since.
“That’s why I came in late,” he said.
Mr Mirco said he was just getting started on cutting a customer’s hair when a man “rushed in and sat down, breathing heavily”.
The barber alleged the man tried to steal a customer’s hat and backpack, telling those in the shop he needed a “disguise”, before producing a 30cm knife when challenged by Mr Mirco.
Mr Mirco said the man then fled the store into the path of the alleged victim, who had parked and was approaching the barbershop for a trim.
Police allege this was when the 24-year-old stabbed the man.
It is further alleged the pair did not know each other.
“This guy lunges at him, just like that,” Mr Mirco said.
Mr Mirco said the person who was allegedly stabbed was a customer of his, aged about in his 40s, who worked as a painter out at Wadeye.
NT Police say they expect to charge the 24-year-old later on Thursday.
Four injured, one stabbed: Witness speaks after horror Nightcliff assaults
Update – September 12, 11.50am: A young man who allegedly assaulted four people and stabbed one in the abdomen outside a quiet Top End shopping village is expected to be charged by police.
Police say multiple people were reported as having been assaulted by a 24-year-old man on Oleander St, Nightcliff, next to the shopping centre, at about 4.20pm on September 11.
Four people, three men and a woman, were injured in the reported incident – with one man stabbed multiple times in his abdomen as he was leaving a Nightcliff village barber shop.
The injured man was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital where he is understood to be in a stable condition.
The remaining three victims suffered “minor injures”, according to an NT Police statement.
Police said the young man was arrested and taken into police custody and is expected to be charged on Thursday.
“At this stage there is no indication that the victims were known to each other,” an NT Police spokesman said.
A witness to the alleged incident described to this masthead the moment the alleged offender stabbed the man who was leaving the barbershop – which on Thursday morning displayed a sign in the window.
“Had a stabbing here yesterday,” the sign read.
“Been up late, will open at midday.
“Too many psychos around.”
The witness asked their name be withheld for privacy.
“He (the victim) just got a haircut and a person said ‘Give me a lift’,” the witness said.
“(The victim) said ‘Leave me alone’ and then (the other man) stabbed him.”
The injured man is understood to be a Nightcliff resident.
When asked what needed to be done to protect Territorians from brazen acts of violence, the witness said the new Country Liberal Party should act on their election promises to crack down on crime.
“They better do something, because it’s getting bad,” they said.
The alleged offender was taken into custody near the scene when police arrived after the incident.
Longtime Nightcliff resident and employee at a Nightcliff village business, Joanne Paterson, said the alleged stabbing had shaken her plans of spending her retirement years in the Territory.
“I heard Tony (barber shop owner) outside (during the incident),” Ms Paterson said.
“I later heard the sirens and when I locked up I (saw police) and thought ‘Oh wow, what’s that all about?’ and saw the crime scene tape up.”
She said despite confronting incidents occurring frequently at the shopping centre, local business owners and staff still kept smiles on their faces.
Ms Paterson, who has lived in the leafy northern Darwin suburb for more than 20 years, said she was strongly considering a move to North Queensland due to the NT’s crime rate.
“I had planned my retirement here,” she said.
Owner of Savvas Shoes, Savvas said while he didn’t witness the alleged incident, he held concerns for the safety of younger employees in the village.
“It is a bit sad,” he told this masthead.
“But what do you do? That’s the norm around here.”
“Now this has happened, I have got to be a bit more wary and alert.”
Man in stable condition after Nightcliff stabbing
Update - September 12, 6.20am: A man who was stabbed in the abdomen is in a stable condition, police say.
He was allegedly assaulted with an edged weapon by another man on Progress Drive about 5pm Wednesday.
St John NT Territory Response Manager Craig Garraway said the man had “multiple stab wounds” and had been in a serious condition when paramedics and a critical response team arrived.
Mr Garraway said paramedics treated the man on the spot before taking him to Royal Darwin Hospital.
Northern Watch Commander Kaye Pemberton at 6am Thursday said the man underwent surgery.
She said he was now in a stable condition.
Sergeant Pemberton declined to comment on whether the alleged offender had yet been charged in relation to the incident.
Man stabbed in abdomen near busy Nightcliff shops
A man has been rushed to hospital and another is in police custody after a stabbing in Nightcliff, with police taping off a scene at the intersection of Pavonia Place and Oleander Street near where the popular weekend markets are held.
Northern Territory Police confirmed crews were called to a stabbing incident on Progress Drive around 5pm Wednesday.
“A male allegedly assaulted a man with an edged weapon, resulting in a stab wound to his abdomen,” a police spokeswoman said.
“Emergency services were called to the scene, and the man was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.”
The police spokeswoman said the alleged offender was nearby when police arrived and he was taken into custody.
“Police are continuing their investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the nature of the relationship between the individuals involved,” she said.
At this stage, the ages of the men involved and the seriousness of the victim’s injuries are unknown.
Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant information to contact them on 131 444 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
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