MAN QUIZZED AFTER FAST-FOOD WORKER SUFFERS STAB WOUND
NADIA Softa held the head of the man who she claims had just tried to rob her restaurant, washing his forehead and speaking to him about his family until he stopped struggling.
The Babba’s Super Rooster owner is, by all accounts, one tough chook.
She was setting up her family restaurant in Manoora yesterday when she said a young man entered and tried to steal money from the locked till, eventually using a pair of scissors to cut its cord.
He had been in the shop earlier that day to buy food.
“My son, Paul, asked him what he was doing,” Ms Softa (right) said. “He started calling Paul names and then got the scissors.”
Mr Softa received a “fairly bad” stab wound to his chest and a cut on his arm, but still wrestled the man to the ground while police were called.
Mrs Softa said the man was struggling violently and trying to bite her son’s neck, and threw a brick towards him.
Her maternal instinct kicked in and she held his head firmly while talking to him and giving him a drink.
“I gave him some water and put some water on his head, and washed his forehead and face,” she said.
“He calmed down, then he started crying.
“He told me he was from the Gold Coast and didn’t have a mum, and he had nowhere to live and was staying on the street.
“I told him he doesn’t have to do that – there’s help in Cairns and we do have shelters.
“He just slumped and started crying. He offered me money to pay for the cable but I told him to keep it to pay for his lodgings.”
Mrs Softa went back to work after police arrested the man, while her son went to hospital for treatment.
She planned to go camping today to get the event off her mind.
Her son will be back at work.
Mrs Softa urged authorities to establish a police beat in Manoora or keep more visible patrols due to a rise in crime in the area.
A police spokesman confirmed a man had entered the takeaway shop on Reservoir Rd at about 1.40pm yesterday, causing damage to an EFTPOS terminal after ordering some food.
When the man left the store, a 48-year-old employee (Paul Softa) followed and challenged the man about the damage.
A physical altercation occurred during which Mr Softa received a stab wound to his chest.
Police arrested a man at the scene who was assisting them with their inquiries.
Mr Softa was transported to Cairns Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Investigations were ongoing last night.