Backpacker stabbing went on for hours: hostel owner
The stabbing attack that claimed the life of a British backpacker near Townsville lasted for hours, according to the hostel’s owner.
Shelley’s Backpackers owner John Norris, who has also been treated for injuries following the attack that killed tourist Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, has told media that the attack went on for around three and a half hours.
“It started just after 11pm and probably went through until 2am, 2.30am,” he told the ABC.
“They were told to get into the room and lock themselves there.”
Guests barricaded themselves inside their rooms during the prolonged attack, with most able to shield themselves from danger.
“Some people were lucky, and some were unlucky, and that was Mia and Tom,” Mr Norris said.
One who was not, was Ms Ayliffe-Chung’s fellow backpacker Thomas Jackson who is still in hospital in a critical condition after being stabbed more than 20 times in his attempt to save her.
The hostel’s manager, Grant Schultz, 46, also suffered stab wounds while attempting to help Ms Ayliffe-Chung.
Smail Ayad, 29, a French guest at the hostel, has been charged with the murder of Ms Ayliffe-Chung, the attempted murders of Mr Jackson and Mr Schultz and 12 counts of assault, relating to attacks on police officers.
Police allege Ayad had developed a romantic infatuation for Ms Ayliffe-Chung in the short time he had known her, but she had not reciprocated.
