A man who allegedly stabbed his partner, a police officer and innocent bystanders with a box cutter has been identified as 58-year-old Antony Benson.
Emergency services were called to the Princes Highway, near Old Bush Road, in Engadine, Sydney’s south, at around 9am on Sunday morning following reports of a multi-vehicle crash.
Police allege Benson was driving a white Jaguar with his girlfriend, 48, when they rammed a blue Mitsubishi sedan.
He then allegedly stabbed his partner several times in the neck and chest, then attacked bystanders and a New South Wales police officer before turning the knife on himself.
Despite his injuries, Benson reportedly attempted to flee before being tasered by police several hundred yards away.
He was taken to hospital in Liverpool, where he is in a stable condition.
On Monday, he was charged with eight counts in connection with the alleged incident.
These include causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to kill (domestic violence), wounding a person with intent to resist arrest, reckless injury, affray, and assault resulting in actual bodily harm.
The alleged knifeman (pictured) was heard ranting about ‘conspiracy theories’ after the alleged stabbing and crash
He was also charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, failing to stop and render assistance following a vehicle collision causing grievous bodily harm, and obstructing or resisting a police officer in the execution of his duties.
Benson was denied bail to appear in Sutherland District Court at 3 p.m. Monday.
The alleged attack unfolded in front of family members as bystanders rushed to help the injured.
Cronulla Sharks chairman Steve Mace was among those who rushed to help when emergency services arrived at the scene.
He was driving through Engadin to go to a football final with his son when he witnessed the accident.
Concerned for the occupants, he jumped out of his vehicle and ran to the alleged stabber’s car to provide assistance.
“I heard the man screaming in the car and then I heard his partner screaming even louder. I tried to open the door and eventually got it open,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
According to Mace, the alleged knifeman was angry with his female passenger and said that “she had changed the radio station.”
There’s more to come