A MILITARY veteran who was nearly killed in a brutal, unprovoked stabbing at a Bayside shopping centre says he is still seeking justice as prosecutors appeal what many have described as a “manifestly inadequate” sentence handed to his teenage attacker.
Chris Sanders – a former defence force and security worker – was stabbed multiple times, including a life-threatening wound that narrowly missed his heart, during a violent confrontation at the Alexandra Hills Shopping Centre in December 2023.
Despite the severity of the attack, the 17-year-old offender received a three-month conditional release order with no recorded conviction in the Childrens Court earlier this year, prompting public outrage and a formal appeal by Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington.
Mr Sanders said the sentence failed to reflect the gravity of the crime and sent the wrong message to the community.
“I could’ve been killed. Thank God I wasn’t,” he said.
“The knife went in under my armpit and cut through to my lung – it missed my heart by just one and a half centimetres.”
The incident unfolded after Mr Sanders exited the shopping centre carpark and his vehicle was punched and kicked by a teenager.
When he stopped to question the youth, the confrontation escalated.
A group of teens surrounded him.
“He kicked me about a dozen times in the back. I’d only had back surgery five weeks earlier,” Mr Sanders said.
Despite his military training, Mr Sanders was quickly overwhelmed and stabbed in the leg, stomach and chest.
In March, the teen was sentenced to a 15-month suspended sentence – with no conviction recorded – after already serving 189 days in pre-sentence custody.
Mr Sanders said he was dismayed by the court process, particularly the behaviour of the offender during proceedings.
“He’s got no remorse whatsoever. None. He sat there blowing kisses at me in court,” he said.
Since the attack, the teen has allegedly reoffended and is now in custody under adult laws.
Prosecutors are seeking a harsher sentence on appeal – including a recorded conviction and a two-year term, with at least six months further to serve.
State Member for Capalaba Russell Field said the case highlighted a broader issue with how the justice system handled serious youth violence.
“Well, we hope justice is really served,” he said.
“That’s the problem today – judges seem to be too lenient.
“When victims suffer lifelong effects and offenders get a slap on the wrist, it’s just wrong.
“And then they still want to appeal it? It’s totally wrong.”
Mr Sanders agreed, saying the attack and the long legal ordeal had taken a heavy toll on his physical and mental health, his marriage, and his ability to support his family – including his mother, who was undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer at the time.
“It’s just really done a job and a half on me,” he said.
While grateful for the support he’s received, Mr Sanders said the experience had left lasting scars.
“I don’t see it as a second chance at life. I’ve been handed a life sentence of trauma, flashbacks, anxiety and depression,” he said.
He hopes the upcoming appeal decision will acknowledge the seriousness of the crime and help spark broader reform around sentencing for serious youth violence.
“The judge even said in court they hadn’t seen something like this for a long time,” he said.
“I just hope justice is served this time.”
