Shane Raymond Gardner, 41, was refused bail in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday October 12.

Police allege he stabbed a 47-year-old Victorian man twice - in the back and beside his right eye - during an altercation on Park Street shortly after 7pm.

The victim told police that a male person came up from behind and stabbed him in the back, but that he didn’t know who he was.

In facts tendered to the court, officers allege the victim fell onto a small garden outside a block of units and turned to face his assailant, who then swung a knife at his face and stabbed him near the right eye.

The victim told police that his attacker said: “You have made a big mistake.”

According to officers the man screamed, staggered up a driveway, and asked an elderly resident to phone 000.

A witness later told officers that the attacker walked north along the Princes Highway toward Bega.

Official records show there was a delay in the response of police and ambulance to the scene.

When they did arrive, the victim was taken to Pambula Hospital in a serious condition (and later airlifted to Canberra for specialist treatment). However, his attacker was gone.

The following evening officers noted a man matching the description of the assailant sitting outside the Bega Gipps Street Women’s Refuge.

Mr Gardner, who was found in possession of a kitchen knife and screwdriver, said the knife was for protection. Officers said traces of blood were found on the handle.

Mr Gardner admitted that he had stabbed the other man because he was following him and he thought he was a “faggot”. He also told police that he had not cleaned the knife since.

Police say Mr Gardner agreed to be interviewed and told them he knew the injuries he had inflicted on his victim could have been fatal.

He told officers he believed the victim was homosexual but admitted there had been no conversation or approach made.

According to police, Mr Gardner indicated that the victim had come from a cross section in the road.

They said it was unclear whether or not he had been following him.

Magistrate David Heilpern refused bail and adjourned the case to Batemans Bay Local Court on November 23 where a psychiatric report will be delivered.