Two African men have appeared in court over an alleged machete fight involving seven people inside an Adelaide apartment building.
Craig Keith Makosa, 25, and Chol Mathiang Apech, 27, were arrested at the Altitude student accommodation building in the CBD after the alleged brawl erupted at 5am on Monday, following a night of drinking.
Both appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court by video link on Tuesday and were remanded in custody after Magistrate Christopher Smolicz heard Makosa had a violent criminal history and was already out on bail for an unrelated alleged affray, The Messenger reported.
Apech suffered a chest wound and is yet to enter a plea to two counts of aggravated commit assault with a weapon and one count of aggravated affray, while Makosa is yet to enter a plea to one count each of aggravated cause serious harm with intent, aggravated commit assault with a weapon and aggravated affray.
Sean Nottle, lawyer for Makosa, told the court his client was the alleged victim, and that CCTV summaries prepared by police showed him running into the building’s elevator after trying to hold the apartment’s door shut.
Apech’s lawyer James Caldicott told the court his client swung the machete but also suffered a cut across his chest and was already inside the apartment when Makosa arrived.
He asked the court for home detention for Apech, saying his client was acting in self-defence, 7 News reported.
Police prosecutors allege a fight broke out after a mobile phone went missing and a machete was drawn, leaving three people including Apech with severe stab wounds and lacerations, including a 16-year-old boy who was allegedly stabbed in the back, thigh and hands.
He also suffered a possible perforated liver.
A 31-year-old man suffered stab wounds to his abdomen and a head laceration.
Apech will return to court next week, while Makosa will remain on remand until September.
Header image: Left, Chol Apech, Right, one of the injured men (7 News).
