Club diners help thwart ‘horrific’ attempted murder
Laine Clark |
A kitchen hand stood down for stalking a female colleague has allegedly returned to work and repeatedly stabbed the woman in front of shocked customers.
The 33-year-old man is accused of trying to kill the young waitress with a large carving knife at Brisbane’s Easts Leagues Club before being “swarmed” by good Samaritans.
He has been charged with attempted murder over the “vicious and cowardly assault” that left two people in hospital including the 20-year-old woman.
The man was told at 2pm on Thursday he had been excluded from the club after giving “unwanted and unsolicited attention” to the waitress, police said.
About three hours later, he allegedly returned with a knife and attacked the woman as dozens of people were dining.
“She was confronted in a hallway where she had little chance to escape,” Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham told reporters.
A 61-year-old chef came to her aid and was stabbed in the hip, giving the woman time to escape to the main dining area, where patrons and staff helped her, police said.
“Unfortunately the interactions of the chef only slowed the offender’s progress,” Supt Massingham said.
The man allegedly pursued the woman and attacked her again in the busy dining area, inflicting defensive wounds to her hands and 10cm cuts to her head and wrist.
“I have seen the CCTV footage and it is confronting. It unravelled very quickly,” Supt Massingham said.
A 41-year-old female patron suffered a hand laceration as up to eight people overpowered the man, holding him down until police arrived minutes later.
“It will be alleged the offender went to that premises yesterday with a clear intent, I have no doubt about that,” Supt Massingham said.
“We are just so thankful that that intent was not fully realised.
“The only reason it was not … was by the intervention of people who basically swarmed him.”
The woman remains in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries that require ongoing surgery.
Supt Massingham praised the bravery of everyone who helped, saying it would be a life-altering event for them.
“They will forever remember what occurred. It’s horrific,” he said.
The man is in hospital under police guard with a hand wound that will require surgery.
He was charged with attempted murder and stalking along with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding and going armed to cause fear.
He was remanded in custody to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
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