Kaleb Howell committed to district court for alleged Coolum Beach stabbing

The critical moments in the lead up to a horrific alleged double stabbing at the hands of three people on the Sunshine Coast have been revealed by the accused getaway driver.

The aftermath of the alleged stabbing at Lyons Park at Coolum Beach during Easter last year. Picture: Facebook

The alleged getaway driver for a trio accused of a violent park stabbing on the Sunshine Coast has been committed to stand trial in the higher court.

Kaleb Richard Howell is accused of being involved in a group stabbing of two men at Lions And Norrie Job Park in Coolum Beach during the Easter long weekend along with Natasha Isabel Weston and Ty Dale George Crosswell.

Police allege Howell drove the group to the beachside park on the afternoon of March 30 where a disturbing melee broke out between them and two other men not known to them.

It’s alleged by detectives the two men were assaulted by the trio before being stabbed by Crosswell. The group was also accused of stealing a backpack from one of the victims.

Detectives allege Howell drove the group away from the scene, however the trio was later arrested on two counts of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and one of robbery and assault in company.

Kaleb Richard Howell. Picture: Facebook

Weston was additionally charged with possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensils.

She was remanded in custody while Howell and Crosswell were granted bail. All of their matters remain before the courts with no pleas entered.

During Howell’s committal hearing in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday, police prosecutor Nick Nitschke told the court Howell had a case to answer.

Sergeant Nitschke said statements from the two alleged victims outlined events, descriptions of the trio and conversations during the fight.

He alleged the co-accused, to some degree, put themselves at the scene with some statements given against their own interests, partnered with CCTV and mobile footage.

The police prosecutor put to magistrate Chris Callaghan the evidence of the alleged victims painted pictures of how the fight started and what occurred, particularly them seeing a knife.

“During that melee (the victim) then said ... ‘Oh I’m stabbed, I’m f---ing dying’,” Sergeant Nitschke alleged.

“Then he provided conversation which was said by the co-accused ‘f---ing kill the c---, kill him,’ during the assault.”

The court heard one of the other alleged victim’s recounting Weston saying “pull the knife out, let’s stab these dogs”.

Sergeant Nitschke said the police statements given by the trio were “unreliable” and “self serving” but conceded it was a circumstantial case.

Natasha Isabel Weston. Picture: Facebook

The police prosecutor said video footage allegedly showed Howell present during the second part of the melee before he drove the trio off and changed clothes. The court heard his clothes were later allegedly found with blood on them.

In reading out the allegations, Mr Callaghan stated Croswell and Howell went to Weston’s home after a beer at the Coolum Beach Hotel where she told them some “c---s down the park bashed a girl” known to the Yandina teenager.

Mr Callaghan said Howell allegedly told police that “Natasha kept pushing us” to drive to the park before she asked if he supported “women being bashed”.

The court was told the 19-year-old allegedly relented and drove the trio down to the park.

The Lions and Norrie Job Memorial Park in Coolum Beach where the alleged stabbing took place.

The magistrate said it was alleged Howell said Weston concealed a small knife in her bra before driving to Coolum Beach.

Mr Callaghan said it was alleged Crosswell later had a knife and it was not Howell.

He said it was argued by defence lawyer Ben Rynderman the 19-year-old could not be a principal offender or even an accessory after the fact for any of the charges.

“(Howell) knew that they were going down to ‘sort out’ these blokes ... he knew that one of the members had a blade on her, he nevertheless aided by taking them down there,” Mr Callaghan said.

The magistrate believed there was a case for Howell to answer in front of a jury and committed him for trial on his four charges.

The 19-year-old left the court on bail.

Originally published as Kaleb Howell committed to district court for alleged Coolum Beach stabbing