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Man charged after stabbing rampage
Mackenzie Ravn | 03:25pm February 11, 2012
A man is taken into custody after a dog was killed and a man stabbed at Hope Island. Pics: Kate Czerny.
Pictures: Stabbing rampage at Hope Island
A 42-YEAR-old Gold Coast man has been charged with attempted murder and animal cruelty after a dog was decapitated and a man stabbed this morning.
Investigations indicate an argument took place between a man and a woman around 8am at the Hope Island Marina where it will be alleged the man slapped the woman in the face, before arming himself with a knife and fatally wounding her dog -- a small, brown poodle named Georgie -- by severing its head.
The owners of the dog are Bob and Ros Covington.
It will be further alleged he then stabbed another man, the marina's harbour master Mike Davis, causing serious but non life-threatening injuries.
Police were called to the scene and took a man into custody a short time later.
A 42-year-old Hope Island man has been charged with one count each of attempted murder, acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm, going armed as to cause fear, assault occasioning bodily harm, possession of a knife in a public place, animal cruelty and injuring animals.
He is due to appear before the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
Mr Davis, who was stabbed in the abdomen, is in a serious but stable condition in Gold Coast Hospital.
Residents barricaded themselves inside their homes near the marina as a man wandered the area brandishing a blood-covered carving knife and screaming that he was 'the dark angel'.
Divers are currently on scene searching for the knife.
Marina resident Brian Johnston described the alleged offender as a quiet neighbour.
``He was running around wielding a knife covered in blood which was really scary,'' he said.
``It is just unbelievable, his brain had just gone out of control because he was calling out to the heavens and quoting scripture.''
"It started with a noise of the dog yelping. I thought a car had hit the dog but then I heard a person screaming.
"A lot of people came out of their boats to see what was going on but once the message got out that he had stabbed the harbour master we all locked ourselves in our boats.
"I have lived here for two-and-a-half years and we mostly an elderly bunch of dog and boat lovers.
"It is just a great community atmosphere. We have a great community spirit so this is devastating.
"He is a big man and all he had on was his jocks so it was very intimidating. He was walking up and down with the knife held up to his head quoting scripture. The police were at the gate telling him to drop the knife but he kept saying come and get it."
An eyewitness who did not wish to be named said:
"We could see him hacking away the dog's throat and then he came around to our jetty so we barricaded ourselves in.
"Two months ago the same man had the police here after he locked himself and his family in his boat and threatened to burn it down," she said.
Help
R.I.P. to the poor dog caught in the middle of this. 
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