Shocked family of accused Dover Heights knifeman break their silence on chilling ‘attack’

The family of a once high-flying property developer who allegedly knifed his best mate’s wife in the chest with a ‘ten-inch blade’ have broken their silence on chilling millionaire’s row ‘attack’.

Matthew Brian Ramsay, 46, was arrested on Monday and charged with stabbing Helen Coulston with intent to murder when she answered the door of her mansion in Dover Heights, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, at about 12.15pm.

Mrs Coulston, 46, was raced to St Vincent’s hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Ramsay was very close with the alleged victim’s husband, Walt Coulston – the pair holidayed together in Greece in their 20s, he was best man at the Coulstons wedding and is godfather to their two children.

On Wednesday, the one-time real estate agent’s sister-in-law, Shailee Ramsay, told Daily Mail Australia the situation is ‘hard’ because she is also friends with Mr and Mrs Coulston.

‘I can’t say much because it’s complicated and this is a really hard time because Walter and Helen are really good friends of ours too,’ she said.

‘So it’s hard for everyone.’

Matthew Ramsay’s sister-in-law, Shailee Ramsay (pictured), told Daily Mail Australia she is also close with the Coulstons

Matthew Ramsay is pictured, right, with his brother, Anthony, and their daughters – before Mathew’s marriage broke down

When asked whether her family would support Ramsay throughout his legal battle, she replied: ‘Yeah, we will be.’

He was denied bail in Waverly Local Court on Tuesday and will appear before a magistrate again on October 19. 

Shailee, a former fitness model, married Ramsay’s brother Anthony in 2015 and the trio have been pictured together at family gatherings numerous times over the years – mostly while he was still happily married with an infant daughter.

His marriage broke down in 2016.

Mr Coulston, on the other hand, was all smiles on Tuesday after taking his kids out for sushi – despite his wife’s alleged near-death experience.

He made a bizarre comment to one of the journalists stationed outside their home, offering a quote in exchange for learning where her jacket was from.

‘I’ve got to go give the kids lunch, sushi, they love it,’ he told 9 News.

Helen Coulston’s husband Walt Coulston is pictured at the couple’s home on Wednesday morning

Ramsay (pictured left) and Coulston (centre) had a long-standing friendship spanning at east 15 years

‘I have to ask you where you got your jacket from everyone likes it, it’s obviously the most important thing happening, so if you tell me that, I’ll tell you something.’

Mr Coulston went on to say the incident was ‘as you’d expect … a bit weird’.

‘Could you imagine the person who was the best man at your wedding and the godfather to your daughter doing that?’ he asked.

Builder Peter Haramis, who ran to help, alleged to Daily Mail Australia that the 46-year-old mother was on ‘all fours’ with Ramsay as they allegedly fought for the knife.

According to his account – which is yet to be tested in court – Mr Haramis claimed she managed to toss the blade to the tradesman: ‘He looked at me for a second and froze and that gave her the chance to get the knife.’

‘She threw the knife past me and I got it… I said (to the alleged attacker), “you’re not getting the knife”.’

Pictured: Matthew Ramsay (second man from the left) when he was best man at Helen and Walt Couston’s wedding

Helen Coulston (pictured with her husband) was allegedly stabbed in the chest outside her Dover Heights home on Monday

Ramsay, who did not personally appear in court on Tuesday, was also charged with shoplifting $31 worth of snacks and flavoured milk from a petrol station.

His defence lawyer Andrew O’Brien did not apply for bail and sought an adjournment for both matters.

Mr O’Brien indicated he would look to have his shoplifting charge dealt with under the mental health act when the case returns to court on September 5.

The attempted murder charge will next return to court on October 19, with an interim apprehended violence order put in place with NSW Police naming Mrs Coulston as a person in need of protection.

Ramsay has been charged with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm with intent to murder for the Dover Heights stabbing.

Matthew Brian Ramsay (pictured), 46, appeared in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday. He is a high-flying real estate agen

A hero builder, Peter Haramis (pictured), who ran to help alleged to Daily Mail Australia the 46-year-old mother was on ‘all fours’ when he arrived on the scene

Neighbours said Ramsay’s car was seen frequently in the street where the Coulstons and their children have been renting the house for several months. 

The family had only been living in the $4000-per-week rental for a few months before the alleged attack took place. 

According to Ramsay’s LinkedIn profile, he works in partner development for  commercial real estate company, Stanton Hillier Parker.

However, a spokeswoman for the company said he hasn’t worked there for at least 12 months and he had been repeatedly asked to amend his profile to reflect that.

‘We’ve asked LinkedIn to remove it because it’s not accurate and he doesn’t work for us anymore,’ the woman said.

Matthew Brian Ramsay, 46, allegedly stabbed Helen Coulston when she answered the front door of her cliffside Dover Heights home (pictured)