This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/15/man-charged-with-over-fatal-stabbing-of-paramedic-in-south-western-sydney
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Man charged with murder over fatal stabbing of 29-year-old paramedic | Man charged with murder over fatal stabbing of 29-year-old paramedic |
| (4 months later) | |
| Steven Tougher, 29, was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s while he and a workmate took a break on Friday | Steven Tougher, 29, was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s while he and a workmate took a break on Friday |
| A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a young ambulance paramedic in Sydney’s south-west. | A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a young ambulance paramedic in Sydney’s south-west. |
| Steven Tougher, a 29-year-old father of one, was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s while he and a workmate took a break towards the end of their night shift about 5.30am on Friday. | Steven Tougher, a 29-year-old father of one, was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s while he and a workmate took a break towards the end of their night shift about 5.30am on Friday. |
| The colleague activated a duress alarm, sparking a police response in which a younger man wielding a knife was tasered and arrested. | The colleague activated a duress alarm, sparking a police response in which a younger man wielding a knife was tasered and arrested. |
| Homicide detectives later charged Jordan James Fineanganofo with murder. He was due to appear at Parramatta local court on Saturday, however he did not attend. | Homicide detectives later charged Jordan James Fineanganofo with murder. He was due to appear at Parramatta local court on Saturday, however he did not attend. |
| Outside court, Fineanganofo’s lawyer, Javid Faiz, told reporters his client had mental health issues and was in the hospital at Long Bay jail. | Outside court, Fineanganofo’s lawyer, Javid Faiz, told reporters his client had mental health issues and was in the hospital at Long Bay jail. |
| “I’ve explained the offences and he is fully aware of the gravity,” he said. | “I’ve explained the offences and he is fully aware of the gravity,” he said. |
| Faiz separately said he understood his client had been undergoing extensive mental health treatment but was not receiving treatment at the time of the incident. | Faiz separately said he understood his client had been undergoing extensive mental health treatment but was not receiving treatment at the time of the incident. |
| “I believe he was off treatment and medication at the time,” Faiz said. “He’s got psychosis issues”. | “I believe he was off treatment and medication at the time,” Faiz said. “He’s got psychosis issues”. |
| “He was confused all last night but is doing better today.” | “He was confused all last night but is doing better today.” |
| Fineanganofo is due to reappear in court on 28 June. | Fineanganofo is due to reappear in court on 28 June. |
| Tougher, who had been working for the ambulance service for about a year, was assisted by witnesses at the scene but died shortly after arriving at Liverpool hospital. | Tougher, who had been working for the ambulance service for about a year, was assisted by witnesses at the scene but died shortly after arriving at Liverpool hospital. |
| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup | Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup |
| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup | Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup |
| “The surgeons … worked valiantly, albeit futile in this instance, to support our colleague,” the NSW Ambulance commissioner, Dominic Morgan, said. | “The surgeons … worked valiantly, albeit futile in this instance, to support our colleague,” the NSW Ambulance commissioner, Dominic Morgan, said. |
| The slain man’s father said his son always wanted to be a paramedic and had just been posted to south-west Sydney, Morgan said. | The slain man’s father said his son always wanted to be a paramedic and had just been posted to south-west Sydney, Morgan said. |
| “I’ve met with the family and as you can imagine personally, it’s very difficult to process.” | “I’ve met with the family and as you can imagine personally, it’s very difficult to process.” |
| A GoFundMe page set up on Friday afternoon sought support for the paramedic’s partner, who is expecting a second child. | A GoFundMe page set up on Friday afternoon sought support for the paramedic’s partner, who is expecting a second child. |
| Sign up to Afternoon Update | |
| Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters | |
| after newsletter promotion | after newsletter promotion |
| It is understood the couple intended raising their family in southwestern Sydney after he recently landed a posting in the area. | It is understood the couple intended raising their family in southwestern Sydney after he recently landed a posting in the area. |
| Dozens of flowers and cards have been laid at the scene as friends and family described the young father as a “beautiful soul” in tributes across social media. | Dozens of flowers and cards have been laid at the scene as friends and family described the young father as a “beautiful soul” in tributes across social media. |
| One letter left by a retired paramedic read: “Prayer to you, brother. Your shift has ended. Rest in peace”. | One letter left by a retired paramedic read: “Prayer to you, brother. Your shift has ended. Rest in peace”. |
| The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association said on Saturday it was “devastated” by the death of Tougher, a paramedic and registered nurse. | The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association said on Saturday it was “devastated” by the death of Tougher, a paramedic and registered nurse. |
| “Our hearts go out to Steven’s family, friends and colleagues who face this awful tragedy,” the union’s general secretary, Shaye Candish, said. | “Our hearts go out to Steven’s family, friends and colleagues who face this awful tragedy,” the union’s general secretary, Shaye Candish, said. |
| “It’s heartbreaking when a healthcare worker doesn’t get to go home. Nurses and paramedics live our lives to help others, this is just senseless.” | “It’s heartbreaking when a healthcare worker doesn’t get to go home. Nurses and paramedics live our lives to help others, this is just senseless.” |
| Emma Gedge, a union councillor and midwife, spoke on behalf of Illawarra staff who worked alongside Tougher, their friend and colleague. | Emma Gedge, a union councillor and midwife, spoke on behalf of Illawarra staff who worked alongside Tougher, their friend and colleague. |
| “A dedicated nurse and staunch union activist, Steven never hesitated to help people, no matter the circumstances,” she said. | “A dedicated nurse and staunch union activist, Steven never hesitated to help people, no matter the circumstances,” she said. |
| “Steven never stopped advocating for his colleagues and patients. We will never forget his big smiles, cheeky giggles and charismatic personality. | “Steven never stopped advocating for his colleagues and patients. We will never forget his big smiles, cheeky giggles and charismatic personality. |
| “Steven was a true hero with the kindest soul, who worked towards his dream of becoming a paramedic for many years. He was a loving son, partner, father and friend. We are devastated by this senseless loss and send our deepest sympathies to Steven’s family.” | “Steven was a true hero with the kindest soul, who worked towards his dream of becoming a paramedic for many years. He was a loving son, partner, father and friend. We are devastated by this senseless loss and send our deepest sympathies to Steven’s family.” |