The 45-year-old man arrested over the stabbing of a woman outside a Sydney gym has been identified as North Manly local Anthony Monteleone.
NSW Police released images of officers arresting Monteleone after he turned himself in to Dee Why Police Station on Wednesday morning.
He has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, and breaching a domestic violence AVO.
Officers were called to a Crunch Fitness gym in Alexandria at around 12.30pm on Wednesday, following reports a woman had been injured. On arrival, officers found a 39-year-old woman suffering stab wounds. She was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
The woman — who media has chosen not to name — was allegedly stabbed in the head and body.
Detective Superintendent Rodney Hart confirmed initial inquiries into the attack, which included examining CCTV footage, suggested the man knew the woman, and that they were in a “very short domestic relationship”.
He described the stabbing as a “targeted attack, and confirmed the man was known to police for domestic violence related offences in the past.
“It’s horrendous what has happened to this poor victim,” he said in an official statement.
A source close to the victim reportedly told the Daily Telegraph that Monteleone and the woman were “not in a relationship”.
The source alleged that “[Monteleone] approached her and started talking to her. They were not talking for that long. A short time.”
The source said the woman noticed “a few red flags” and cut off communication. However, the source alleges “there was some sort of stalking and numerous phone calls”, and that when she blocked him, “he started following her”.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the woman took out an AVO against Monteleone on April 20, which banned him from contacting, finding, assaulting, stalking, harassing or intimidating the woman, or destroying her property, as well as going within 100m of her home or work. The report alleges Monteleone breached the AVO twice in the next 14 days, and was refused bail on April 29 after pleading guilty. However, he avoided jail and was handed an 18 month intensive correction order instead. The case raises real questions about how offenders are dealt with by the courts.
Appearing on ABC Radio Sydney, NSW Premier Chris Minns said it was distressing how recurrent such violent attacks have become in NSW.
“It’s important to say that these events are not rare either, they are common, and the number and frequency of domestic violence offences in NSW represents an absolute emergency in this state,” he said.
The woman remains in a stable condition in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, with numerous stab wounds suffered to her head, neck and upper body.
The gym has now reopened to the public after initially being established as a crime scene.
Monteleone has been refused bail and will appear before Manly Local Court on Friday.
Help is available.
- If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
- If you’d like to speak to someone about domestic violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
- Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
