'That troubles me': judge questions why lecturer allegedly had knife
A judge has questioned why someone with the “education, family background and job” of a university lecturer accused of stabbing six teenagers in a park was allegedly walking around with a flick knife in his pocket.
The NSW Supreme Court heard former UNSW School of Medicine academic Shannon Brett Morrison was "ultimately beaten to the point of unconsciousness" in the melee involving a large group of youths at the Turramurra park on January 12 this year.
Hament Dhanji, SC, appearing in a bail application for the 34-year-old Hornsby man, told the court a witness to the brawl claimed to see a large group of young males starting pushing Mr Morrison and saying "aggressive things" to him.
"It appeared they wanted to fight," Mr Dhanji said.
He said there appeared to be a "kind of territorialism" from the intoxicated group, "particularly in relation to older people", after referring to evidence that the 10 to 15 youths had "effectively chased" another older man whom they were calling a "paedo" from the Gilroy Rd park.
But Justice Robertson Wright said the mystery of why Mr Morrison was carrying the weapon in the first place was "a matter that troubles me".
"Why would a person who has the education, family background and job that the applicant had be carrying a weapon and be in the park with such a weapon," Justice Wright said.
The court heard Mr Morrison was intoxicated late at night when he passed the group of teenagers and the altercation broke out.
The court heard the initial confrontation appeared to have been between Mr Morrison and a younger male, who gave evidence the older man "took out what looked like a cut-throat thing and sliced him".
Mr Dhanji said Mr Morrison was on his own with a significant number of "very drunk" young people and "he didn't have the opportunity for calm, detached reflection."
"It's a fairly long bow to draw to say he's gone out to deliberately undertake to injure persons," he said.
Police have previously said emergency services were called to the park shortly before midnight, with a 16-year-old girl who was stabbed being taken to hospital with a collapsed lung and underwent surgery.
Four other teenagers suffered non life-threatening stab injuries in the fight, while a 17-year-old boy underwent surgery for stab wounds to his throat, chest and abdomen.
Mr Morrison was also taken to hospital after the incident with injuries to his head and upper body.
He has been charged with attempted murder, six counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, affray, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
The Crown argued the applicant went to the park armed, "and in response to a confrontation, he used a knife to resolve it".
The Crown lawyer said the teenagers were "stabbed indiscriminately" and in some cases suffered wounds that could've been fatal.
Justice Wright said Mr Morrison appeared to be the only person who had a weapon.
Mr Dhanji said his client, who was also working as a project manager at a pharmaceutical company and holds a Masters in Pharmaceutical Medicine and a Bachelor of Advanced Science, was an "intelligent man" with no criminal history.
He said conditions restricting him from drinking alcohol and going out at night, among other measures, would address the risks to the community.
Justice Wright granted Mr Morrison bail on the conditions that he not enter the suburb of Turramurra, abide by a curfew, report to police daily, not take drugs or drink alcohol, see a psychiatrist, and not leave the house unless in the company of his parents or wife.
He is next due to face Central Local Court on August 6.