A 46-year-old father has died and his son in hospital after they were allegedly stabbed in a public park by a man on parole.
Emergency services were called to Knox Park in northern New South Wales after a brawl broke out around 12:30pm on Tuesday.
A witness told Gold Coast Bulletin the fight broke out between a tattooed man and a group of youths.
“The bloke left for a while and came back with a big knife, that’s when it really started to get intense,” he said.
“Lots of other people were getting involved.
“Some were armed with glass bottles and poles … it all happened right at lunch time in front of kids and old people.”
In a nearby street, just minutes after the wild brawl, Zack Larter, 18, was allegedly stabbed once in the chest before his father jumped in to protect him.
Detective Inspector Brendon Cullen confirmed James Alderton, 22, was charged over the fatal stabbing of 46-year-old Charlie Larter.
The attack happened on Mr Larter’s birthday.
“He was planning to go have some drinks and go to the pub with his family … next thing I hear he has been killed and my nephew is in surgery,” his sister said.
There was a considerable amount of people at the park during the fight and Detective Inspector Cullen is urging witnesses of the Knox Park brawl to come forward.
“There was a significant amount of people in the park at the time of the incident and we are appealing for those people who have taken footage on their mobile phones to come forward and contact us,” he said.
“[We are asking] people who have witnessed this incident [to come forward] so we can get a clearer picture of exactly what happened.”
“A man has been arrested and it’s about healing now and moving on with things,” he said.
Alderton appeared in Tweed Heads Local Court Wednesday morning wearing a blue forensic suit and made no application for bail.
If you have any information to pass on to police about this incident, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
