A man who allegedly launched a frenzied knife attack on a man waiting for a bus in Belconnen was out for revenge, a court has heard.
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Miroslav Jovanovic, 55, pleaded not guilty on Friday to stabbing a man six or seven times with a small folding knife in at the Belconnen Bus Interchange in early April.
The 38-year-old victim was left with a punctured lung and severed arteries between his ribs, according to court documents.
Police say the victim - who is not thought to have fought back or attempted to defend himself - would have died without emergency treatment.
Jovanovic applied for bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, after his first bid for release failed in late April.
The court heard the stabbing, originally thought to be without motive, was part of a revenge attack on a man who Jovanovic's son had a fight with several years prior.
CCTV footage of the attack was viewed by the court, and Magistrate Peter Morrison noted the prosecution's case appeared strong.
Jovanovic is accused of punching the man in the back of the head as he waited for a bus, before putting him in a stranglehold.
His girlfriend was then heard call out "don't stab him", before he allegedly struck the victim in the back and shoulder repeatedly.
The prosecution raised fears that, if released, Jovanovic may try to intimidate or harass the victim or witnesses, and that he may try to interfere with evidence.
They said there was no evidence that the antagonism that drove the revenge attack had abated.
Jovanovic's lawyer, Rachel Bird, said her client would be forced to wait for a considerable time in prison before facing trial in the ACT Supreme Court, given the court's current delays.
Ms Bird said he had strong ties to the ACT, and was on a methadone program with a high dosage.
She said police have already had a month to complete their investigations, enough time to dispel fears of Jovanovic interfering with evidence and witnesses.
Ms Bird said Jovanovic could be ordered by the court not to approach the victim or witnesses, and was willing to report twice-daily to police.
Mr Morrison denied Jovanovic bail, and he will appear in court again in June.
