An elderly man and his wife are fighting for life after being allegedly stabbed during a violent home invasion at their rural NSW property, before the man shot the intruder when he tried to force his way back inside.

Emergency services were called to the property in Torrington, about 65km south-west of Tenterfield, in northern New South Wales just after 12.15am on Thursday morning following a break-in.

Police allege 75-year-old man and his 72-year-old wife were at home when Joshua Dylan Trethewey, 34, entered the house and attacked them with a knife.

 

The woman suffered a chest wound and collapsed, while her husband was slashed across the abdomen. The intruder then went onto the verandah.

The injured homeowner called 000 for urgent help as police from Tenterfield and Glen Innes, along with NSW Ambulance paramedics, were dispatched.

However, before officers arrived, the man allegedly attempted to re-enter the house and was shot by the elderly man.

The couple were treated at the scene for serious injuries before being airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

Trethewey was also treated at the scene for a gunshot wound to the abdomen before being taken by road to Armidale Hospital under police guard. He is reported to be in a serious but stable condition.

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An elderly couple has been critically injured after being stabbed in a suspected home invasion

The incident happened in Torrington, 65km south-west of Tenterfield in regional NSW

The incident happened in Torrington, 65km south-west of Tenterfield in regional NSW
On Thursday morning, NSW Police confirmed Trethewey had been charged with two counts of cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder.

‘We don’t believe he’s known to the couple. We’re certainly investigating all the circumstances of what occurred today, but at this stage I’m unable to say why he tried to re-enter the house,’ Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon said.

‘To our knowledge, nothing was stolen from the residents.’

Supt McKinnon said the husband was initially able to defend himself after retrieving a knife from the kitchen, injuring the alleged attacker.

‘He then left the house, but then he tried to re-enter, and the male had retrieved a firearm and fired one shot at the offender,’ Supt McKinnon said on 2GB.

He later praised the elderly man for his actions.

‘He certainly did his best, obviously under very difficult circumstances to defend himself and his partner. It was quite impressive that he was able to do that, given the extent of the injuries that he had suffered,’ Supt McKinnon said.

Police believe the man was a licensed gun owner.

Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon said the elderly man was initially able to defend himself with a knife, before the alleged intruder returned
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Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon said the elderly man was initially able to defend himself with a knife, before the alleged intruder returned

Trethewey was refused bail and was due appear before in Bail Division Court later today.

However just minutes into the court session, the judge told waiting media Trethewey’s matter would not go ahead as the ‘bedside hearing’ had been ‘refused.’

A longtime friend of the elderly couple, Norm, said the incident was devastating and said the man was currently in surgery after suffering a ‘very very bad’ stab wound.

The woman is expected to have surgery later today for ‘chest punctures.’

‘Great guy, absolutely great guy. Husband and wife, and he wouldn’t hurt a fly, and they live a peaceful, calm life,’ he told 2GB.

‘They’re bloody crook… I just cannot believe it. They put fruit out the front for people to come and get, so they can look after their neighbours…’

The couple remain in a critical but stable condition.