An artist's sketch of Darren Walsh
A HOMELESS man who allegedly stabbed a Ballarat fisherman and told police to shoot him has been committed to stand trial.
Darren Walsh, 47, appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday for committal proceedings. He pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted murder.
Yesterday, the court heard from witness Stuart Reynolds, who was fishing with the victim, Edward Dean, when the alleged attack occurred.
Mr Reynolds told the court he was part of a group of men who went fishing at Lake Esmond on February 18 this year.
Mr Reynolds told the court he was part of a trio who came across Walsh near Clayton street, when the accused began abusing the men and acting aggressively.
“This guy decided he was going to kill us.”
Mr Reynolds told the court Walsh ran over a bridge towards the men with a “big pocket knife” and attacked Mr Dean.
“He went straight for my mate Ed ... he thrust at him three or four times to stab him,” he said. “I was yelling at both my mates to get away from him.”
Mr Reynolds said Walsh appeared to be “on a mission to kill someone”.
On Tuesday, the court heard from several other witnesses, including police, who revealed they used three canisters of OC foam to subdue Walsh.
The court heard that Dean suffered a stab wound to his chest, which narrowly missed his heart,
Magistrate Peter Couzens committed Walsh to stand trial at a later date.