Two friends who allegedly helped a man charged with attempted murder with a machete face court

An alleged attempted murderer sought help from two friends after using a machete to sever a man’s fingers, a court has heard.

An ACT Policing spokesperson alleged that on 4 September 2024, a man used a 25-inch Gerber Gator machete in an attack at a Wanniassa address.

According to previously tendered court documents, 30-year-old Zachery Norton reportedly left the alleged victim with several cuts, a fracture to the back of his skull and severed three of his fingers. He has been charged with attempted murder and his case remains before the courts.

Speaking on Friday (14 February), Detective Sergeant Alex Chapman said investigators from the Major Crimes Squad arrested two people after raids in south Canberra.

“It will be alleged that those two people assisted the principal offender to escape apprehension on the day of the incident on 4 September,” he said.

The alleged accomplices – 35-year-old Paul Liam New and 22-year-old Angel Elise Talbot – faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, where both sought to be released on bail.

Both have been charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Prosecutor David Swan asked the court to refuse Mr New’s bail due to the potential of him interfering with evidence or witnesses.

Mr Swan told the court the alleged principal offender, Mr Norton, had approached Mr New after the attack.

“Mr New and Ms Talbot drove the offender away from the scene of the incident where the victim received life-threatening injuries,” he alleged.

He also alleged Mr New had lied to police while Ms Talbot had cleaned the car.

The court also heard the weapon used in the alleged attack, a machete, has not been located.

Mr Swan said there was “no clear evidence”, but it was alleged Mr New knew how the machete was disposed of or its current location.

Also, he said Mr Norton had reportedly told him to “‘stay staunch’ in relation to police investigating the matter”.

Mr New’s defence lawyer, Legal Aid’s Lesley Jayasuriya, said the court could have confidence the man would follow bail conditions, such as a proposed “strict form of house arrest”.

He also helped to care for his nieces and nephews and had a “strong network of family in Canberra”, which would keep him in the Territory, he said.

Magistrate Glenn Theakston granted bail for both accused.

Mr New’s bail conditions include residing at a Wanniassa address, reporting to police twice a week and not contacting specified people.

Under Ms Talbot’s bail, she must reside at a Phillip address. She must also not contact a series of people, including the alleged victim and the alleged co-offenders.

Both of the alleged accomplices will return to court in March. Neither have entered pleas.

Detective Sergeant Chapman also asked that anyone with information about the alleged incident, especially about the weapon said to have been used in the attack, contact police.

Anyone with information that can assist police, or who may have witnessed the incident, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or by visiting the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference number 7842338. Information can be provided anonymously.