A COUNTRYLINK train became a moving hostage situation in the Upper Hunter after a dispute between a couple escalated into a horrific domestic violence attack that left a woman with multiple stab wounds and passengers and staff trapped in a confined carriage with a knife-wielding man.
Darryl Luke Smith, 41, repeatedly threatened to kill the mother of his eight children and used luggage to barricade himself and the victim inside a carriage.
He threatened to stab other passengers if they stood up and yelled at staff who stopped the train and called police in what was a prolonged, terrifying and chaotic scene on board the CountryLink train from Sydney to Moree on November 23, 2024.
"Stay away or I will kill her and kill you," Smith barked at a staff member.
"I'll f-----' kill ya, get the train moving," he screamed at another.
Details of what happened on the train can be revealed after Smith recently pleaded guilty to detaining and stabbing his partner and assaulting staff during the Newcastle District Court's super callover.
Smith had initially pleaded not guilty and was expected to face a trial in March 2027, but changed his pleas after prosecutors agreed to drop more serious charges, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Smith remains behind bars and will be sentenced in August.
The pair had just got back together after being separated for five years and Smith became "angry and agitated" and would not return her phone.
Other passengers noticed the couple were arguing and the victim asked a male staff member to help get her phone back.
Smith refused and the victim told the staff member she was afraid and to call the police, prompting Smith to throw a tray of coffee at her.
Smith then began punching the victim as the male staff member tried to intervene.
But Smith grabbed his hand, twisted his finger and said: "stay away or I will kill her and kill you".
The victim ran behind the counter of the buffet and a female staff member closed the door to stop Smith from following.
But Smith jumped over the counter and began screaming at her as the staff member frantically radioed for police to be called.
The female staff member was trapped behind the counter in the buffet section of the carriage and pinned against the wall as Smith assaulted and stabbed the victim, holding a knife over his head and plunging it into her shoulder.
The female staff member managed to escape the buffet area and headed into the next carriage, but was followed by Smith and the victim.
Smith threw the victim into her seat and stabbed her twice more, a witness describing it as a "quick two or three jabs" to her stomach, ribs and under her arm.
Smith was screaming at the victim and called her a "mongrel dog" and a "useless woman" during the attack.
Bleeding profusely, Smith grabbed some clothes from the victim's bag for her to hold against the wound.
The victim was having trouble breathing, but the pair sat next to each other on the train for some time while Smith held the knife.
To stop the victim from leaving, Smith used luggage to barricade himself and her inside the electric sliding door between carriages.
When a staff member attempted to enter the carriage, Smith held the knife out and said: "you stay away or I'm going to kill you".
As the train departed Singleton, a staff member in the driver's cabin heard the radio broadcast requesting help and told the driver to stop the train at Ravensworth.
The staff member walked to the buffet car and discovered the hostage situation, Smith yelling at him: "I'll f---ing kill ya, get the train moving".
There were about 10 other passengers inside the carriage, including some who were recording the situation on their mobile phones.
Smith said he wouldn't stab any of the passengers, unless they tried to confront him or stood up.
A staff member radioed the driver to get him to open the other end of the carriage so those trapped could get to safety.
Police arrived when the train was stopped at Ravensworth railway station and attempted to negotiate with Smith.
They could see the victim was bleeding from a wound to her chest as Smith repeatedly said: "I'll kill her, I'll kill her".
Police told the other passengers to escape via the rear door and onto the tracks and told Smith to put the knife down and move away from the victim.
Smith refused and became agitated again, waving the knife around and cutting the victim's hand.
"Take one step closer and I will kill her," Smith said. "F--- off, lock the door."
At this point, police believed Smith was going to stab the victim and a female officer ran towards him and discharged her Taser while shouting "get away from her".
Other police officers entered the carriage and kicked the luggage out of the way, blasting Smith in the face with capsicum spray.
Police tasered Smith again and disarmed him, while the victim ran to the back of the carriage.
Smith was handcuffed, but began having a seizure and was unresponsive for five minutes before he regained consciousness and again became aggressive.
He resisted arrest and threatened staff for the next 15 minutes while police worked to restrain him.
Smith ultimately had to be sedated when paramedics arrived and was taken to hospital.
He was later charged and refused bail, while the victim was also hospitalised and underwent surgery for a number of stab wounds.
