Shot policeman was knifed in attack three months ago: [3 All-round Metro Edition]
Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 02 Feb 2008: 3.
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Abstract
Constable Don was attacked outside his home in Randwick last November when he confronted a man wearing a black hooded jumper and armed with a knife. That incident, during which he was stabbed several times in the arms and body, also sparked a massive manhunt, but his attacker was never found.
Constable Don is understood to have described his latest attacker as being of Middle Eastern appearance, possibly Lebanese, with a long rat’s tail, two-toned hair and a white shirt. The attacker is believed to have been travelling in a silver Holden Commodore with tinted windows and without registration plates.
Full Text
A POLICE officer shot in the stomach in Sydney’s Centennial Park yesterday had been recovering from being stabbed several times in the arms and body three months ago, outside his home in a nearby suburb.
A massive manhunt followed the shooting of the off-duty officer near a toilet block in the 360ha park in the city’s eastern suburbs shortly before 8am yesterday, but failed to find his attacker.
The 48-year-old policeman and father of two, Senior Constable Ashley Don, is in a stable condition at St Vincent’s Hospital in the city after undergoing emergency surgery to a gunshot wound in the stomach. He has been moved to the general wards and is understood to be recovering well.
Constable Don is understood to have been on leave for several months. Fairfax newspapers reported last night he had not worked since sustaining a leg injury on duty six months ago. His family, who have been at his side, have not spoken to the media.
Constable Don was attacked outside his home in Randwick last November when he confronted a man wearing a black hooded jumper and armed with a knife. That incident, during which he was stabbed several times in the arms and body, also sparked a massive manhunt, but his attacker was never found.
A man who said he was a friend said the officer had the dangerous habit of confronting people if he thought they were committing a crime. He described Constable Don as “a good bloke, a hero really”.
Constable Don is understood to have described his latest attacker as being of Middle Eastern appearance, possibly Lebanese, with a long rat’s tail, two-toned hair and a white shirt. The attacker is believed to have been travelling in a silver Holden Commodore with tinted windows and without registration plates.
Police said they had seen Constable Don in hospital but had not questioned him. They asked any witnesses to come forward.