Man charged after gym stabbing

A man has been charged after a woman was allegedly stabbed in a domestic violence “targeted” attack outside a Sydney gym.

A 45-year-old man – known to the woman – was arrested after presenting to Dee Why Police Station on Thursday morning.

He was taken to Manly Police Station where he was charged with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder (DV) and contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic).

He will appear in Manly Local Court on Friday.

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Emergency services rushed to the Crunch Fitness gym in Alexandria in the city’s inner south about 12.30pm on Wednesday after a man allegedly stabbed a 39-year-old woman inside the carpark before fleeing in a vehicle.

The woman, who was rushed to hospital in a serious but stable condition, suffered wounds to her neck, upper body and head during the attack

A witness told 9 News that he saw the woman was bleeding from her neck and ears.

One witness, named Claire, told the ABC that she was about to enter the gym when she heard “a scream” and said she saw the man on top of the woman.

“Because of the distance, I wasn’t sure what he was trying to do to her. It looked like he was attacking her or he was trying to rob her,” she said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said Wednesday’s stabbing was a “horrifying and shocking” attack.

“It would be every woman’s worst nightmare to be in that situation, particularly somebody that has taken out an apprehended domestic violence order,” he said.

“It’s important to say that these events are not rare, either. They are common, and the number and frequency of domestic violence offences in NSW represents an absolute emergency in the state.”

His comment come as the government is set to introduce bail reform in domestic violence cases, with the Premier flagging on Thursday that he was open to further reform on how Apprehended Violence Orders (AVO) are monitored.

The attack comes one day after the NSW government flagged the introduction of increased police powers that would allow authorities to “wand” people for knives in areas such as shopping centres and transport hubs.

The laws, which will likely be introduced into NSW parliament next week, will be made available in circumstances where a relevant weapons offence/knife crime have occurred within the past six months and be available to police for 12 hours, with the option to extend.

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