Bloodied crime scene, hospital trips and series of chilling texts: Inside the alleged Morphett Vale attempted murder

A midnight knock on the door, a series of chilling texts allegedly detailing a terrifying plan – now neighbours are scared. Go inside the alleged home invasion in Adelaide’s south.

• 21yo woman ‘filmed alleged home invasion’
• Charged man seriously injured: court

Neighbours are living in fear after a bloody midnight home invasion in Adelaide’s south, with one family already planning to leave before the attack.

Just after midnight in the quiet Morphett Vale street last Saturday morning, a young woman – sporting a pink dressing gown – allegedly knocked on the door of a Columba St home.

Seconds later, Jared Hocking, 27, was running for his life – chased through his own hallway by a group of men armed with a knife, crowbar and a machete.

The alleged midnight murder attempt left the man with a perforated lung, two people remanded in custody, and another two still on the run from police, with a series a text messages revealed in court leading up to the attack.

One nearby resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they feared for their family’s welfare and were now moving to a safer neighbourhood.

“We have sold our place thankfully, but I see a lot of people in the neighbourhood are packing up and selling,” they said.

“I feel secure in my home, but there is a lot of violence in this street, luckily we lock the gates when we go to sleep.”

The young family had recently installed CCTV cameras in a bid to bolster their security further.

Several homes – sighted by the Advertiser on Thursday – had sale signs within walking distance of the victim’s Columba St property, while the majority of neighbours had ramped-up security measures, such as roller blinds and surveillance cameras.

Another long-term resident said there were often many people coming and going from the property, which neighbours a popular playground.

“Over the years, there’s been a bit of carry on, hoo-ha, as I think it’s a rental,” they said.

“It’s pretty alarming, you’ve just to be aware and look after yourself.”

12.30am – an alleged knock on the door

The scene of the alleged home invasion. Picture: Dasha Havrilenko

Nikita Peacock, 21, had allegedly “performed some work” at Mr Hocking’s house during the week of the attack over which “animosity” had risen, prosecution told the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday.

About 12.30am on Saturday, March 29, Ms Peacock, of Christie Downs, allegedly approached Mr Hocking’s property accompanied by three other men.

When a woman answered the door, it’s alleged the group said they were looking for Mr Hocking – who, seconds later, came to the front of the house.

“He comes to the door and they chase him down the hallway into the kitchen or the laundry,” a police prosecutor alleged.

“He arms himself with a knife and he is attacked by three other co-accused and the female in the dressing gown is filming it on her phone.”

The court heard the woman who first opened the door managed to “barricade” herself in a bedroom.

Ms Peacock is yet to enter any pleas since being charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and attempted murder.

A solicitor told the court earlier this week the charges were “contested”.

“It’s not necessarily contested that Ms Peacock is that person in the dressing gown, but it is contested that she had any knowledge of anything to do with the actual charges that are before the court – and knowledge of any intention to be involved in any of those charges or anything related to the actual offending before the court today,” they said.

12.45am – police called, getaway car captured on CCTV

Emergency services at the property. Picture: 7NEWS

Emergency services rushed to the Columba St property about 12.45am on Saturday after being alerted to the incident.

There, they found Mr Hocking suffering stab wounds and needing urgent medical care.

CCTV from the front of the house allegedly captured a Mazda 3 arriving at the address at the time of the offence.

While police were at the property, it’s alleged the Mazda was seen on traffic management cameras driving along the southern expressway toward Flinders Medical Centre.

Victim and accused arrive at same hospital, separately

Blood-soaked clothing is seen outside the home. Picture: 7NEWS

CCTV from the hospital allegedly captured the Mazda dropping off two passengers – Ms Peacock, identified by her dressing gown, and her co-accused Bowen Gregory Milne, 22.

Mr Milne, of Port Noarlunga, appeared in court on Tuesday in a bedside hearing after undergoing surgery for lacerations to his head and thigh sustained during the alleged attack.

He is yet to enter any pleas to aggravated serious criminal trespass, attempted murder and aggravated cause harm with intent.

On Monday, Ms Peacock’s court appearance heard Mr Hocking was “still in hospital” due to life-threatening injuries, but had since stabilised. He was allegedly stabbed in the back during the attack and suffered a perforated lung.

Chilling text messages reveal alleged plan

Upon Ms Peacock’s arrest, police seized her phone and allegedly found text messages between the group.

It’s alleged Mr Milne and another male co-accused – who remains on the run – discussed “getting” Mr Hocking “to whack” him.

The court also heard a message said “we’re going in now”.

“Messages on Ms Peacock’s phone between her and Mr Milne indicate she was collected by him around about 12am on March 29,” the prosecutor alleged.

“Messages immediately received before that one indicate he was picking her up ‘to whack’.”

The Morphett Vale community are now gripped in fear, neighbour say. Picture: Dasha Havrilenko

What next?

At their respective court appearances, both Ms Peacock and Mr Milne were denied bail by Magistrate Kylie Schulz who said there was a need to protect the alleged victim, Mr Hocking, and the wider community.

“In this case, there are serious allegations of violence that has resulted in alleged serious injury to a complainant,” Ms Schulz said.

The pair were both remanded in custody and will face the Adelaide Magistrates Court in July.

Originally published as Bloodied crime scene, hospital trips and series of chilling texts: Inside the alleged Morphett Vale attempted murder