Horrific new details have emerged in court regarding an alleged axe attack that turned a camping trip deadly, resulting in one man's death and a woman being injured. Ahwen Kohn, aged 26, appeared via video link in Bail Court on Tuesday, facing allegations that he murdered a 33-year-old man and choked a 25-year-old woman at the Little Styx River Campground, located east of Armidale, on Sunday night.
Alleged Attack and Aftermath
The court heard that Kohn is accused of fatally striking the man in the head with an axe before turning on the woman when she attempted to call an ambulance. Instead of allowing her to summon paramedics, Kohn allegedly convinced the woman to load the victim's body into a car and drive away from the scene.
Police Investigation and Evidence
According to police reports, the woman then drove the body approximately 60 kilometres from Ebor to Thora in search of help. Emergency services later discovered the man's body with what was described as 'significant trauma to the head'. After the woman departed with the deceased, Kohn reportedly approached another witness and requested a lift to the main road.
When the witness inquired about what had transpired, Kohn allegedly engaged in an argument and responded cryptically: 'You don't want to know.' During the car journey, Kohn repeatedly asked whether there was a police station in the nearby town of Guyra.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Kohn was arrested on Waterfall Way in Ebor around 11:30 am on Monday, roughly 24 hours after the alleged murder. Police stated they found a knife in his waistband at the time of arrest. Two crime scenes were established: one at the campsite and another in the woman's vehicle.
Bail Application and Opposition
Kohn's Legal Aid lawyer, Matthew Spicer, applied for bail, arguing that his client had a 'limited criminal history' and would comply with stringent conditions. However, the police prosecutor strongly opposed bail, emphasising that a murder conviction would likely result in a life sentence.
Magistrate Miranda Moody acknowledged Kohn's lack of a violent history but described the murder allegation as 'serious and brutal'. She noted his previous offences included drug and driving charges, as well as property destruction. Magistrate Moody deemed the prosecution's case 'strong', citing the presence of witnesses and Kohn's alleged attempts to evade police detection.
'[The case is] involving an axe to the deceased, and I consider that’s a concern as well,' she remarked. Ultimately, bail was denied.
Charges and Police Statements
Following his arrest, Kohn was charged with three offences: murder, intentionally choking a person with recklessness, and assault occasioning bodily harm. NSW Police Superintendent Chris McKinnon confirmed on Monday that the individuals involved were known to each other.
'It's always a terrible thing that someone ends up dead from an altercation like this,' Superintendent McKinnon told reporters. 'It's understood that they were known to each other and they were camping together along with a female.'
He added, 'We know that male [from Thora] received a lift from someone else who was camping nearby and he was dropped at Waterfall Way.'
Kohn is scheduled to appear in Armidale Magistrates Court on April 22 for further proceedings.
