Attempted murder charge downgraded for vicious Kmart New Town stabbing attack
Vivid and shocking video evidence of a sudden stabbing attack, which unfolded before shoppers outside Kmart New Town, has been played in a Hobart court. LATEST >
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VIVID video evidence of a sudden and vicious stabbing attack outside Kmart New Town has been played before a Hobart court.
The shocking footage was screened after Joshua Dale Harrison, initially charged with the attempted murder of his “best friend”, pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge of causing grievous bodily harm.
Crown prosecutor Linda Mason SC said the 27-year-old and his friend were sharing a cask of wine outside Kmart on April 13 this year when a disagreement broke out.
She said Harrison, without warning, started stabbing the 24-year-old victim to the chest, shoulder and neck.
“The complainant was taken completely by surprise,” Ms Mason said.
Harrison then punched and kneed the victim, who was sitting on a bench, to the face a number of times while still holding the knife.
“The entire incident was witnessed by members of the public, including a number of young persons,” Ms Mason said.
The prosecutor said passers-by asked Harrison to stop, and he did – and was subsequently seen cradling his victim’s face in his hands.
Ms Mason said the CCTV footage recorded outside Kmart provided a “vivid visual account of the attack as it unfolded”.
The footage showed the two men seemingly enjoying each other’s company before Harrison’s shocking, sudden and vicious attack on his friend.
Police and ambulance were called to the scene, and a knife covered in blood was found in a rubbish bin nearby.
The victim was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital in “respiratory distress” with two punctured lungs and other injuries.
He was intubated and underwent surgery.
Harrison later told police he was “extremely intoxicated” at the time.
“(He said) he could not remember what happened, but thought the complainant ‘was in a bad way and that he’d gone too far’,” Ms Mason said.
“He said he would not have intended to kill his best friend, but said he would have hurt him to teach him a lesson.”
Chief Justice Alan Blow remanded Harrison in custody, and will sentence him on February 6.
Everybody appearing at Hobart Magistrates Court, Thursday, May 8
Here is a list of people appearing at Hobart Magistrates Court on May 8.
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