A triple-0 recording has captured a man’s futile efforts to save the life of a friend who lay dying with a stab wound to his back inside his North Wollongong apartment.
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Malcolm Roberts was following operator’s instructions as he found a tea towel and pressed it against the wound that would claim the life of 58-year-old Allan Dempsey. As Mr Dempsey’s condition deteriorates, Mr Roberts urges the operator to send help.
“Get the ambulance here quick, please,” he says, in a recording played to a Supreme Court jury sitting in Wollongong on Thursday.
“He’s conscious, but only just … he’s in a bad way, mate.
“I’ve plugged [the tea towel] on the wound. I’ve got my hand here.
“He’s not really good, mate … do your best, mate.”
Kevin James Russell, 53, is accused of murdering Mr Dempsey the evening of January 8, 2016, after he grew impatient waiting for an acquaintance to return to Mr Dempsey’s Cliff Road public housing unit with “smoko” he had paid $40 for.
In court on Thursday a woman sobbed as forensic details of Mr Dempsey’s fatal injury were aired.
The Crown will allege Russell had been drinking heavily when he fatally lashed out at Mr Dempsey, the person physically closest to him.
Police allegedly found Russell a short time later at a Corrimal Street unit with blood on his hands, which were then encased in police evidence bags in order to preserve the integrity of the stains.
The Crown will allege he told police, “yeah, I admit it, I stabbed the c-nt in the back” and “is that junkie f-cking c-nt dead yet? I do really hope you’re dead you c-nt.”
In court on Thursday, Crown prosecutor Wayne Creasey told jurors” “the real issue in this case is whether or not you were satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that at the time of the stabbing, the accused had a murderous intent”.
Russell’s lawyer, Angus Webb, will attempt to argue that his client’s crime was manslaughter, not murder.
In evidence, Mr Roberts said he and Mr Dempsey lived less than 500 metres apart and liked to visit each other almost daily to “fix things and and muck around with them”.
On January 8, 2016, they got to work repairing a pushbike, had “a few beers” and were working on modifying a speaker.
About 6pm they were joined at Mr Dempsey’s home by another friend, Darren Holly, and a man they didn’t then know – Russell.
He described Russell growing angry and impatient after Mr Holly left with his money.
“He opened up his backpack. He pulled out this big knife,” he said.
“I think he said something like, that he’d ‘had enough of this’.
“Then he sat up … Allan was between me and (Russell] then he [Russell] lunged forward and stabbed Allan in the left shoulder blade.
“I was kneeling on the floor and then I attempted to stand up but by the time I stood up it was too late.”
The trial continues before Justice Stephan Rothman, on Friday.
TRANSCRIPT OF MALCOLM ROBERTS’ 000 CALL
OPERATOR: What’s the town or suburb of the emergency?
MR: Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW
OPERATOR: North Wollongong, was it?
MR: Yep.
OPERATOR: OK. And the address we’re coming to?
MR: It, it’s for my, my, my friend has been stabbed in the back, mate
OPERATOR: Yeah, where are we coming? What address?
MR: Unit 46, Number 78 Cliff Road, North Wollongong
OPERATOR: Unit 7, is it?
MR: Unit 46
OPERATOR: 46? OK. The mobile number you’re calling from?
MR: (WITHHELD)
OPERATOR: All right., so he’s been stabbed in the back?
MR: Yes, mate, and we need an ambulance.
OPERATOR: Yep, I’m organising that. OK.
MR: Quickly.
OPERATOR: Hey, I’m organising it so stay calm.
MR: He’s laying on the floor, mate, he’s stabbed.
OPERATOR: OK. When, when did this hap – how old is he?
MR: He’s 58 years old.
OPERATOR: OK. Is he awake?
MR: Sorry?
OPERATOR: Is he awake?
MR: Yes, he’s conscious but only just.
OPERATOR: OK. I’m just going to ask a serious of questions while we organise the ambulance, all right? When did this happen?
MR: 15 minutes ago.
OPERATOR: All right. Is the offender still nearby?
MR: Yes.
OPERATOR: Is he inside the same building?
MR: Yes.
OPERATOR:OK. Is there any serious bleeding?
MR: Yes, mate, he’s stabbed, been stabbed on the left-hand side of his back, near the left-hand shoulder blade.
OPERATOR: OK. All right. Now –
MR: Fuckin’ he’s in a bad way, mate.
OPERATOR: – is there more than one wound?
MR: No, that’s all I can see but get the ambulance here quick, please.
OPERATOR: Yeah, listen, listen. Stop telling me to get the ambulance there quick, OK? I’m going to give you some instructions to control the bleeding, all right? I need you to get a clean, dry, cotton towel –
Yep.
OPERATOR: – place it right on the wound … You there?
Yep, I’ve plugged it on the wound. I got me hand here.
OPERATOR: Press down firmly.
Yep.
Now, has the bleeding been controlled?
MR: Right, yep.
OPERATOR: Good. OK. Now, I’m just going to stay on the line with you, all right?
MR: Yes, mate.
OPERATOR: Just verify that address for me, please?
MR: Unit 46
OPERATOR: Yep.
MR: – number 78 Cliff Road, North Wollongong.
OPERATOR: And is that near, ah, Harbour Street?
MR: Yes.
OPERATOR: OK. Now where’s the offender?
MR: He’s next to me.
OPERATOR: OK.
(MR speaking in background)
OPERATOR: What sort of knife was used, do you know?
MR: Oh, a 12-inch carvin’ knife, mate.
OPERATOR: OK. No worries … Have you got the towel on the wound?
MR: Yeah I’ve got me hand on …
OPERATOR: Yep, just keep the pressure on there, mate. Now is he still breathing.
MR: Yes, he’s slow at the moment.
OPERATOR: Good.
(BACKGROUND NOISE)
MR: Kevin, you right? Yeah, he’s, um, not feelin’ too good, mate.
OPERATOR: Is he talking to you?
MR: No, he can’t talk.
OPERATOR: OK. Is he breathing?
MR: Yeah, only just.
(BACKGROUND NOISE)
OPERATOR: Let me know if he stops breathing or anything like that.
R: Yep. I’ll just put the phone down for a sec, mate.
OPERATOR: You’re right. You’ll be right, mate.
(MR SPEAKING IN BACKGROUND) (PHONE RINGING)
MR: Yeah, no, he’snot really good, mate.
OPERATOR: Yep. We’re coming to you lights and sirens, mate.
MR: Yep … do your best, mate.
(BACKGROUND NOISE) (MR SPEAKING IN BACKGROUND)
OPERATOR: So that’s 46 or 78 Cliff Road?
MR: Yep.
OPERATOR: Thanks, mate. Thanks. Is the front door unlocked?
MR: Yep …
OPERATOR: Yep, good, and you’ve got that towel on the wound?
MR: Yep.
OPERATOR: Yep. Make sure you’re pressing down firmly.
MR: Yeah, I am, mate.
OPERATOR: Good man.
(BACKGROUND NOISE)
MR: Give me one sec. Check his pulse …
(BACKGROUND NOISE)
MR: Your right, buddy … mate.
OPERATOR: Yep … Yeah we’re coming to you as quick as we can, mate.
MR: Yeah, I know. Fuck me dead. Yeah, the offender’s took, taken off.
OPERATOR: He has?
MR: Yep.
(BACKGROUND NOISE)
OPERATOR: So he’s definitely left, has he?
MR: Yep.
OPERATOR: The offender’s definitely taken off?
MR: Yes, mate.
OPERATOR: OK, thank you. How’s his breathing? Is he breathing at all?
MR: Yeah, not really, mate.
OPERATOR: He’s not breathing?
MR: Not really, no.
OPERATOR: OK.
OPERATOR: He has this … fuck.
(VOICES IN THE BACKGROUND)
MR: Yeah, the offender’s too, took off.
OPERATOR: What’s he look like … is he breathing at all?
MR: N-
OPERATOR: Is he breathing? … You there, mate?
MR: I dunno, fuckin’ –
OPERATOR: You, you, you there, mate?
(VOICES IN THE BACKGROUND)
OPERATOR: You there? … Hello? Hello?
(VOICES IN BACKGROUND AS POLICE ARRIVE. MR DOES NOT SPEAK AGAIN, BEFORE CALL CONCLUDES)
Angela Thompson
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
