A construction worker stabbed a party boat birthday boy several times when fights erupted on the back of claims a drink had been spilt on a woman, police have alleged.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that alleged stabber Hayden Ashley Ryan Todkill, 25, would likely argue he used a knife in self-defence.
Todkill, of Ngunnawal, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm when he first faced court in March.
When he appeared again on Tuesday to apply for bail, police documents outlining the allegations against him were tendered to the court.
In the documents, police say Todkill was among 33 people who cruised Lake Burley Griffin on a party boat to celebrate two birthdays, including that of his alleged victim, on March 5.
During the voyage, a woman who had driven Todkill to the boat slapped a man in the face and accused him of spilling a drink on her.
Later, once the cruise had been cut short by "disorderly" behaviour, the boat's passengers disembarked and went to The Dock in Kingston.
Todkill and the alleged drink spiller exchanged words at that venue, according to police, who say the pair went outside and began fighting.
Police claim the alleged stabbing victim broke up this altercation and several passengers from the cruise began walking towards Eastlake Parade.
As they went, Todkill is said to have pulled out a knife, which had been concealed in his clothing, and stabbed the alleged victim in the front of his body.
"[The alleged victim] punched [Todkill] and once the group reached Eastlake Parade, [Todkill] fell to the ground where he continued to stab [the alleged victim] and [the alleged victim] continued to punch [Todkill]," police claim.
"[Todkill] stabbed [the alleged victim] about five times in the abdomen and upper chest."
The alleged victim was later placed in an induced coma, and Todkill, who headed to Nowra, was arrested and extradited back to the ACT.
Defence lawyer Jacob Robertson said on Tuesday that while police seemed to suggest Todkill had been the aggressor, "there are certainly two sides to every story".
Mr Robertson played a number of videos, comprising both CCTV and mobile phone footage, as he argued there were weaknesses in the case against Todkill.
The lawyer said it appeared the alleged drink spiller had sparked the initial fight, and that Todkill had been "surrounded by three males [and] punched and kicked whilst he was on the ground".
Mr Robertson said it would ultimately be for an ACT Supreme Court jury to determine whether Todkill's use of a knife had been "proportional to the threat he perceived".
Suggesting the case was unlikely to reach trial until next year, Mr Robertson proposed strict bail conditions that would involve Todkill living largely under house arrest.
He said his client could offer $152,800 worth of sureties and securities to ameliorate against the risk of flight, arguing this was one of two factors that amounted to special or exceptional circumstances in favour of bail.
But prosecutor Beth Morrisroe argued there were no special or exceptional circumstances in this case, and said magistrate James Lawton must therefore refuse bail.
Ms Morrisroe also said, among other things, that Todkill had a history of violence and that "inferences favourable to the prosecution" could be drawn from the videos played in court.
Mr Lawton indicated he would give his decision on the bail application on Thursday, with Todkill to remain behind bars on remand until then.
