Man charged after alleged stabbing attack of Cape York teacher

A teacher working in a remote Cape York community has been flown to Cairns for emergency medical treatment after allegedly being punched and stabbed at her home. The alleged offender has had his case mentioned in court.

A TEACHER working in a remote Cape York community has been flown to Cairns for emergency medical treatment after allegedly being punched and stabbed at her home.

A man has been charged with grievous bodily harm and common assault following the alleged attack on the 25-year-old woman.

Just after 9.30pm on Tuesday the man allegedly approached the woman at her Blady Grass Street residence and asked for medication and water.

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A Lockhart River man has had his case mentioned in the Cairns Magistrates Court. Picture: Peter Wallis

Police will allege the woman came out to her front veranda and gave the man some water before he allegedly attacked her by punching and stabbing her.

The 25-year-old woman was flown to Cairns Hospital suffering serious but non-life-threatening wounds to her arms, legs, stomach and face.

It is alleged the pair were not known to each other.

A man has been charged following an attack on a teacher at Lockhart River. Picture: Peter Wallis

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Michael Giblet, 26, was remanded in custody on a return to prison warrant after his case was briefly mentioned in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.

He is charged with grievous bodily harm and common assault.

Defence solicitor Hayley Fox said as Mr Giblet was on the warrant she would not be making an application for bail.

The case was adjourned until December 2.

Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher indicated “sly grog” smuggled into the dry community contributed to the alleged attack.

“I’d like to extend my strongest support to our school teachers and staff in Lockhart River for behaviour which is beyond acceptable in any circumstances – behaviour which is to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

“I’d also like to condemn in the strongest possible way those responsible for bringing alcohol into our dry community, which is the source of this unacceptable (alleged) behaviour.

“Make no mistake, I have no doubt about that at all.

“There are too many people in our community with too much time on their hands while the rest of us are working hard to build a future for our families and our children.

“The teacher concerned had a role to play in that, as most of us do, and those who are bringing in this sly grog are as much to answer for this as the (alleged) perpetrator.

“We must stop this from happening, there is only a small number but as we have seen overnight, the consequences can be devastating.”

A Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service spokesman said a 25-year-old woman was in a stable condition in Cairns Hospital.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service confirmed it had flown two female patients from Lockhart River, about 750km northwest of Cairns, on Wednesday, arriving in Cairns at 2.45am.

QBuild representatives are understood to be flying to Lockhart River to inspect teacher accommodation in the community.

Originally published as Man charged after alleged stabbing attack of Cape York teacher