A man who allegedly used a box cutter to stab his partner, a police officer and innocent bystanders has been identified as 58-year-old Antony Benson.
Emergency services were called to the Princes Highway, near Old Bush Road, in Engadine, south of Sydney, shortly before 9am on Sunday following reports of a multi-vehicle crash.
Police allege Benson was travelling with his 48-year-old girlfriend in a white Jaguar when they collided head-on with a blue Mitsubishi sedan.
He then allegedly stabbed his partner multiple times in the neck and chest, before beginning to attack onlookers and a New South Wales police officer, before turning the knife on himself.
Despite his injuries, Benson allegedly attempted to flee the scene before being shot with a Taser by police several hundred yards away.
He was taken to Liverpool Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
On Monday, he was charged with eight counts related to the alleged incident.
These include grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder (domestic violence), wounding a person with intent to resist arrest, reckless wounding, affray, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The suspected stabber (pictured) was heard ranting about “conspiracy theories” after the alleged stabbing attack and crash.
He was also charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, failing to stop and render aid after a vehicle collision causing grievous bodily harm and obstructing or resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty.
Benson was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court at 3pm on Monday.
The alleged attack occurred in front of the families as passersby rushed to help the injured.
Cronulla Sharks chairman Steve Mace was among those who rushed to help as emergency services rushed to the scene.
He was driving through Engadine to take his young son to a football final when he witnessed the accident.
Worried about the occupants, he jumped out of his vehicle and ran to the alleged attacker’s car to help.
“I heard the guy screaming in the car and then I heard his partner scream even louder. I tried to open the door and finally forced it open,” he said. The Telegraph newspaper.
Mace said the alleged knife-wielding attacker was ranting at his passenger, saying “she changed the radio station.”
More to come
