Police have charged a man after a violent incident in Canberra's inner north, where a victim was found bound, gagged, and stabbed following desperate cries for help heard by nearby workers.
Workers' Alert Leads to Grisly Discovery
ACT Policing officers were called to a unit complex on Ainslie Avenue in Reid at approximately 9am on Tuesday, December 23. The call came after workers in the vicinity reported hearing shouts for assistance coming from one of the units.
Upon arrival, police knocked on the door of the unit in question. A man and a woman answered, but officers could clearly hear further calls for help from a second man inside the premises.
Dramatic Escape and Arrest
The pair at the door allegedly fled the scene immediately, escaping by jumping from the unit's first-floor balcony. Police gave chase and managed to apprehend the man a short time later. The woman, however, successfully evaded capture and remains missing.
The arrested man was identified as 22-year-old Tyler Marshall Keppie from Belconnen. Inside the unit, police made a disturbing discovery. A man was found under a blanket with his hands tied and his mouth gagged. He had also suffered a stab wound to the chest.
The victim was treated at the scene before being transported to hospital in a stable condition.
Court Appearance and Ongoing Manhunt
Keppie faced the ACT Magistrates Court briefly on Wednesday, December 24. He did not enter pleas to three serious charges:
- Inflict grievous bodily harm
- Intentionally wound
- Forcible confinement
The charges are alleged to have been carried out in joint commission. Keppie, who appeared in court using crutches and with a bandaged foot, did not apply for bail. He is scheduled to return to court in January.
Meanwhile, police are continuing their search for the female suspect. She is described as Caucasian, approximately 5'9" tall, with dark hair worn in a ponytail. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a black sports bra.
ACT Policing have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers immediately, quoting reference number 8254248. Information can be provided anonymously.
