CASE GETS PERSONAL
MILLIONAIRE businessman Paul Picone was having a “personal relationship” with the wife of the man accused of stabbing him, Steven Edward Smith, it has been alleged in documents provided to the Southport Magistrates Court.
Smith, 32, was granted bail yesterday after a more than hour-long court battle.
He faces charges of grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding, affray and possessing a knife in a public place.
It is alleged Smith, a former Black Uhlans bikie member, stabbed Mr Picone in the chest in a Mudgeeraba car park about 3pm on August 1.
Defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum told the court Smith and his wife denied that Mrs Smith had a personal relationship with Mr Picone.
MILLIONAIRE businessman Paul Picone was having a “personal relationship” with the wife of the man accused of stabbing him, Steven Edward Smith, it has been alleged in documents provided to the Southport Magistrates Court.
Smith, 32, was granted bail yesterday after a more than hour-long court battle.
He faces charges of grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding, affray and possessing a knife in a public place.
The grievous bodily harm charge was added by police on Monday.
Magistrate Kay Philipson also ordered Smith to wear a tracking device until police ordered it be removed.
His bail conditions also included a curfew, daily reporting to police, no contact with Mr Picone or witnesses, no international travel and a surety to the value of $50,000.
It is alleged Smith, a former Black Uhlans bikie member, stabbed Mr Picone in the chest in a Mudgeeraba car park about 3pm on August 1.
Smith is also accused of threatening to kill Mr Picone and his family if Mr Picone spoke to police.
Court documents tendered yesterday show Mr Picone’s business relationship with Smith’s wife, Carly Smith, had become personal.
“The relationship between the victim and the defendant’s partner has always been a business relationship but had re- cently turned personal, where private messages and phone calls have occurred,” the court documents read.
Defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum, of Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, told the court Smith and his wife denied that Mrs Smith had a personal relationship with Mr Picone.
Mrs Smith, Steven Smith’s parents and other family members and friends were in court yesterday to support him.
As the group left court yesterday one of Smith’s supporters tried to grab the mobile phone of a Bulletin reporter.
Smith allegedly used his wife’s phone to contact Mr Picone and arranged to meet him at Firth Park, Mudgeeraba.
At the park Smith repeatedly punched him and during the incident, Mr Picone was stabbed in the chest.
It is alleged Smith said to Mr Picone: “If you go to police, I will kill you and your family.”
Smith fled in his ute and was soon stopped by a traffic officer who pulled a gun on him to stop him. Police allegedly found a knife with a 10cm blade in the waistband of Smith’s pants and a second knife and a billy club in his car.
Court documents stated when police spoke to Mr Picone he was clearly apprehensive in providing a version of events and “genuinely believes that the defendant will follow through on the threat made”.
Mr MacCallum said Smith denied making the threats.
The matter will return to court on August 23.