Sword-wielding man severs neighbour's finger during fight, police allege

A neighbourly dispute allegedly escalated into a fight involving a sword that left one of the two men with a severed finger.

The alleged sword-wielding attacker, 53-year-old Darren Hawkes of Oaks Estate, later told the court he had only defended himself after he was refused bail the next day.

Officers were called to Oaks Estate at around 6:20 pm on Wednesday (22 January) over reports that two men were fighting at a George Street property, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.

The officers arrived to find one of the men with serious injuries to his index finger.

“Paramedics treated the man and identified that the top half of that finger was completely severed. He was subsequently taken to Canberra Hospital,” the police spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, after a short negotiation, officers arrested the man’s neighbour, Hawkes.

Police allege he used a sword during a fight that resulted in the injury to the man.

Hawkes was formally charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm when he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (23 January).

“Oooh, it’s freezing,” he could be heard saying over the audio-visual link as he was brought into a room to face the court.

“First of all, I’d just like to say I’m sorry if I caused any trouble.

“I haven’t had any sleep.”

The prosecution opposed his application for bail, but his lawyer, Legal Aid’s Alana Clarke, argued that strict conditions could ameliorate any risks.

Ms Clarke said he had no violent offences on his criminal record and, according to court documents for the matter, he had given considerable assistance to police.

She said his main concern was his pet cat and dog. He said that if he was remanded in custody, no one would be able to care for them, and the thought of this was causing him considerable distress.

Hawkes could be seen sobbing when his lawyer was talking about his pets.

However, Magistrate Glenn Theakston said these allegations were “very, very serious” and that over the last number of months, police had received a number of reports suggesting there had been alleged violence involving Hawkes.

He also said police had not found the sword said to have been used on Wednesday.

“I would have thought anyone in the community would be very, very surprised if I were to grant bail today,” he said.

Bail was refused and Hawkes was remanded in custody.

“Your honour, you’ll get no more trouble from me,” Hawkes said before he was led away.

“All I did yesterday was defend myself.

“But all my stuff’s going to get stolen, and my cat and my dog.”

The matter was adjourned to 20 February. No plea was entered.