‘Hero’ of alleged stabbing spree speaks out
Written by admin on September 6, 2024
A grandfather is being hailed a hero after helping in a dramatic crash turned alleged stabbing spree, tackling the alleged attacker and being slashed in the process.
Police raced to a two-car crash on the Princes Highway at Engadine about 9am on August 25 after a white Jaguar and blue Mitsubishi Lancer collided before multiple people were found suffering stab wounds.
Antony Benson, 51, is accused of stabbing his partner, who was sitting in the passenger seat, with a box cutter before crashing the car in the incident.
Paul Sargeant was driving along the same road when he witnessed the crash, swerving his way out of the collision.
The 67-year-old grandfather quickly ran to help, telling 9News he saw smoke coming from the Jaguar.
“The screaming … I’ve never heard anything like it, we thought we were just attending a motor vehicle accident,” Mr Sargeant said.
“Yeah, not quite.”
When Mr Sargeant approached the car, it is alleged Mr Benson charged at the grandfather.
Mr Sargeant said the alleged victim was sitting on the ground when he was allegedly “lashed” out at.
The grandfather tackled Mr Benson, suffering a 20cm gash across his abdomen.
“He was yelling at her, saying, ‘You changed the station on the radio’, so we’re trying to calm him down a bit,” Mr Sargeant said.
“So I said, ‘Man, my wife does that too.’”
It’s alleged the 58-year-old man from southwestern Sydney slashed at his 48-year-old partner inside the vehicle as bystanders ran to her aid.
She was found with multiple wounds.
Police say Mr Benson also suffered self-inflicted wounds before he was tasered, taken into custody and transported to hospital in a critical condition.
During the man’s arrest, a police officer suffered a serious laceration to his wrist.
Mr Benson has been charged with wounding Mr Sargeant, who suffered a 20cm abdominal stab wound in the incident, court documents revealed.
He has also been charged with assaulting Cronulla Sharks chairman Steve Mace, who was a witness to the dramatic incident.
Following the incident, Mr Benson was charged with a string of offences including grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, wound person with intent to resist arrest, reckless wounding and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.
He was also charged with failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
Mr Benson will reappear in court next month.
