A man shot dead by police on the NSW mid-north coast had viciously attacked a woman, stabbing her repeatedly and dousing her in petrol.
The 36-year-old lay in wait before ambushing the woman inside her Port Macquarie home on Thursday evening, police said.
The 28-year-old woman managed to escape, seeking refuge at a neighbouring property, where she was reportedly found inside the garage in a pool of blood.
She had taken out an apprehended violence order against the man just three days earlier, but he had avoided police since Monday and it was never served.
The man fled after the attack and was found later on Thursday night driving on the Pacific Highway.
NSW police assistant commissioner Jeff Loy said police used road spikes to stop him but he then threatened officers with a knife and a stand-off ensued.
“He continued to confront police and attack police with a knife and two officers shot the offender,” Loy told reporters in Port Macquarie on Friday.
The couple had known each other for about two months and had been in a short relationship. The woman was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, where she is in a stable condition.
Police shut down the Pacific Highway near Coffs Harbour for eight hours after the critical incident.
- National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.
