DAYLIGHT STABBING
MAN ATTACKED IN SHOPPING MALL CARPARK
A MAN has been charged over a stabbing in the carpark of a busy Townsville shopping centre yesterday in what police say was a targeted attack. A 35- year- old Condon man was charged with grievous bodily harm late yesterday and is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court today. The stabbed man, Corey Hardy, 27, was changing a tyre for friend Nastassja Whittome ( pictured) in the Fairfield Central Shopping Centre when he was allegedly attacked.
HE JUMPED UP ON TOP OF HIM, HIT HIM IN THE HEAD, THEN STABBED HIM.
A MAN has been charged over a stabbing in the carpark of a Townsville shopping centre yesterday in what police allege was a targeted attack.
Witnesses said Corey Hardy, 27, was changing a tyre for friend Nastassja Whittome at the Fairfield Central Shopping Centre in Idalia about 10am yesterday when a man pulled up in a vehicle and stabbed him in the upper abdomen.
It’s believed the alleged of- fender was driving a car with a passenger when witnesses saw him punch Mr Hardy in the face with knuckle dusters before stabbing him and then driving off.
The victim was in a stable condition in Townsville Hospital late yesterday after undergoing surgery.
Ms Whittome told the Bulletin that Mr Hardy suffered serious injuries.
“They have given him six litres of blood and he is now going into surgery,” she said.
Ms Whittome’s partner
ROBERT MASKIELL
Robert Maskiell was with Mr Hardy at the time of the attack.
Mr Maskiell said the offender jumped back into his car and fled straight after the stabbing.
“He jumped up on top of him, hit him in the head, then stabbed him,” Mr Maskiell said.
Mr Maskiell said doctors and nurses rushed to the scene from a shopping centre medical centre to attend to Mr Hardy.
Witness Paul Brightfield was parked next to Ms Whittome’s car.
“When he jumped out, I thought he was mucking around until I saw the knife in his hand,” Mr Brightfield said.
He said it appeared the offender may have known his victim was at the shopping centre at the time.
Another witness, who wished to remain anonymous, was shopping with his twoyear- old son when he heard yelling and commotion.
The witness said he saw a scuffle and then a man hit the ground so he ran over to help.
“He was in a lot of pain and there was quite a bit of blood,” the witness said. “I kept telling him to stay still.”
The witness said the alleged offender was quick to leave the scene, hopping into a white Ford Territory and taking off.
Another man rushed to the victim with a medical kit and put on gloves to apply pressure to the wound. “He was fantastic,” the witness said.
Townsville Crime Prevention Unit’s Senior Sergeant Janelle Poole said the alleged attacker and his victim were known to each other.
“We really want people to understand that this is not a random attack,” Sen- Sgt Poole said. A 35- year- old Condon man has been charged with grievous bodily harm and is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court today.