26 August 2024

UPDATED: Man denied bail over alleged stabbing in Wagga CBD

| Chris Roe and Jarryd Rowley
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A man is wheeled away from a Baylis Street store after reports of a violent assault in Wagga on Thursday afternoon. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.

UPDATE 23 August 5:00 pm: A 60-year-old man has been denied bail following an alleged stabbing in Wagga Wagga on Thursday (22 August).

Owen Rolf Flotmann, also known as Owen Nixon, fronted Wagga Wagga Local Court today (23 August), charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Nixon had his bail formally denied and is set to appear before Wagga Wagga Local Court on 26 August.

UPDATE 23 August 10:30 am: A man has been charged following yesterday’s alleged stabbing on Wagga’s main street.

At around 4 pm yesterday (22 August), emergency services were called to the Bonds Outlet store on Baylis Street following reports of a stabbing.

On arrival, officers attached to Riverina Police District spoke to a 55-year-old man who was suffering serious injuries to his head and lower body.

Police were told the man was using a public toilet in the adjacent Wiradjuri Walkway before he was allegedly assaulted and stabbed by another man.

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He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics with injuries to his eye and nose, and stab wounds to his neck and leg before being taken to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following inquiries at around 11:20 pm last night (22 August), officers arrested a 60-year-old man at an address on Sherwood Avenue, Kooringal.

He was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where he was charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and breach of bail.

He was refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court today (23 August).

Police have arrested a man over yesterday’s stabbing on Baylis Street. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.

22 August 5 pm: There were dramatic scenes on Wagga’s Baylis Street today (22 August) as police and ambulance officers converged on the Bonds store opposite the Sturt Mall following reports a man had been violently assaulted.

Police arrived just after 4 pm and cordoned off the area outside the store and the adjacent Wiradjuri Walkway on the western side of Wagga’s main street.

A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed that “Officers attached to Riverina Police District attended and found a man – believed to be in his 50s – with a stab wound to his head.”

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A large crowd of spectators and local media assembled as paramedics administered first aid to the man inside the store for around 40 minutes.

Just before 5 pm, the patient was wheeled out of the store on a stretcher as paramedics shielded his face with a white blanket and transferred him to a paramedic intensive care vehicle.

Witness reports suggest that the man had been assaulted near the entrance to the walkway between Baylis Street and Tongaboo Lane and entered the Bonds Outlet store to ask for help before collapsing in front of staff.

Ambulance officers confirmed that a middle-aged man had been taken to Wagga Base Hospital in a serious condition with stab wounds to his head and lower body.

Police have established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

As inquiries continue, anyone with CCTV or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The man reportedly entered the Bonds store on Baylis Street to plead for help. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.

More to come.

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