Ararat man refused bail over stabbing

TENSION on a dance floor allegedly resulted in a man stabbing his partner's brother five times, a court heard yesterday.

Mark Chant, 40, allegedly became increasingly agitated as he watched the siblings dance at an Ararat hotel on March 1.

Ballarat Magistrates Court heard, during an unsuccessful bail application, that the men allegedly "had words" outside the nightspot before engaging in a violent fight at the defendant's home in Barkly St, Ararat.

Constable Steve Bice, of Ararat Police, said Chant screamed and head-butted the man, causing a split lip, before the victim pushed him through a window.

Const Bice said the man then left the house, but was stabbed twice in the chest when Chant rushed at him with a knife in the front yard.

The court heard the defendant allegedly stabbed the victim three further times, and slashed him twice, in the chest.

Const Bice said the victim's mother separated the two, and that her son collapsed in the street.

The court heard police opposed bail because Chant allegedly absconded to Melbourne on the night of the offence, had expressed a desire to go to Sydney, and admitted he would struggle to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

Const Bice also said Chant had a history of family violence issues, and had previously failed to appear in court.

But defence lawyer David Risstrom said his client, who had served 41 days in custody, was contesting the charges and had "great motivation to attend all further court dates".

Mr Risstrom also said the father-of-three called police requesting them to remove the man from his house before the alleged incident, and that there were questions surrounding the series of events on the night.

The court heard Chant suffered from a back injury, that his medication interacted badly with alcohol, and that he was seeking alcohol treatment at Port Phillip Prison.

Magistrate Peter Mealy denied Chant's application because he had a history of violence and knew what he was doing at the time of the alleged offence.

Chant is facing eight charges including intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury, and unlawful assault. He will reappear at court on a later date.

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