No bail for man on stab charge

A MAN charged with stabbing another man at Fairfield Waters Shopping Centre on Wednesday will stay behind bars after being refused bail.

Townsville Magistrates Court was told Graham Malcolm Baxter, 35, was already on bail and awaiting trial in the Supreme Court for drugs, stealing and weapons offences, when he allegedly assaulted 27- year- old Corey Hardy.

Witnesses said Mr Hardy was changing a tyre for a friend in the centre’s carpark about 10am when he was punched and stabbed in the abdomen.

Mr Hardy remains in stable condition in hospital.

Baxter, a father of three, has been charged with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and had bail rejected when he was unable to show cause as to why he should walk free.

Solicitor Tristan Carlos said the victim was known to his client but his client had not pursued Mr Hardy.

“The fact they were both in the carpark was by chance,” Mr Carlos said.

In arguing for bail, Mr Carlos said Baxter had turned himself in to police.

“Mr Baxter attended office, and we went to a our the Townsville Police Station together where he surrendered himself to police, and he was arrested,” Mr Carlos said.

“The act of handing himself in to custody shows his ability to comply with the court.

“If he is released on bail it would be under strict conditions, and he has made no further threats to this person.”

The prosecution said it was agreed the carpark meeting had been by chance but Baxter had ready access to a large knife and “knuckledusters”.

Police prosecutor Colleen Wainwright said the attack may have been over a drug debt.

Magistrate Howard Osborne said Baxter was a risk to the community, having already been on bail for up to 20 outstanding offences including drug possession, weapons offences, stealing and possession of Schedule 2 drugs.

“He is unable to show cause and there is a concern which I share, that he would be an unacceptable risk of reoffending,” Mr Osborne said.

“It is a serious offence to a person in a vulnerable position, and therefore bail is refused.”

Baxter is remanded in custody until a committal mention on August 24.