Queensland police have charged a 15-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man after they allegedly attacked a homeless man with box cutters while he was searching for a place to sleep on the Sunshine Coast.
Police say the victim, 35, was with a woman in the car park of the Royal Mail Hotel at Tewantin last night when a car pulled up and two people got out.
Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield from Sunshine Coast CIB said police would allege in court that the two males then set about stabbing the homeless man in an unprovoked assault.
"[It was] completely random. [It] appears that they've just happened upon this homeless person and for whatever reason, have just attacked him," Senior Sergeant Mansfield said.
The man was taken by ambulance to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition with wounds to his chest and shoulder.
Senior Sergeant Mansfield alleged the pair used box cutters to stab and cut the victim, who was "very lucky" to escape without further injury.
"He did pretty well realistically, given the circumstances," he said.
"And then he was able to position himself behind some bins and things like that."
Detectives said Kyzer Priestley, 20, and the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, then tried to escape in a car while being pursued by police.
When the pursuit became high-speed, the officers backed off.
Senior Sergeant Mansfield said officers subsequently used capsicum spray and a taser to arrest Mr Priestley, but no-one was injured.
Mr Priestley has been charged with 19 offences including wounding, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evade police, stealing, receiving tainted property, and obstruct police.
He was not required to enter a plea and was denied bail at Maroochydore Magistrates Court today.
The matter has been adjourned to May 20 for a committal mention.
The teenager has been charged with wounding, stealing and obstructing police.
His matter will be heard in a children's court at a later date.
