Woman thanks ‘heroic’ good Samaritans who saved her life as ex-boyfriend convicted over Brisbane axe attack

A woman who survived a hatchet attack in a Brisbane car park has thanked the good Samaritans who saved her life, after her ex-boyfriend was found guilty of attempted murder.

"They are the reason I am alive today," Maria Buci said outside Brisbane supreme court on Thursday.

Cameron Turgay Bardak, a former security guard, ambushed Buci in the car park in Brisbane's CBD after she finished work at a law firm in July 2020.

He attacked his former girlfriend with a hatchet and choked her before members of the public came to her aid.

Bardak had pleaded guilty to an alternate charge of causing grievous bodily harm. However, crown prosecutor Chris Cook did not accept it, telling the jury that Bardak had formed the idea that "if I can't have her, nobody will".

Buci had told the jury she was walking through the car park and spotted Bardak hiding next to her vehicle and he told her to "get in the car".

"He said 'I'm going to kill you' and that's when I saw the axe," she told the jury.

Bardak hit her with the hatchet, causing her to fall down before striking her again while her hands were covering her head.

The jury was shown iPhone footage of Bardak on top of Buci with his hands around her throat as multiple people tried to separate them.

The trial heard workers from nearby offices rushed into the car park after hearing cries for help.

One witness was struck in the hand by the hatchet but was able to punch Bardak in the head and kidneys in an attempt to stop the attack, to no avail.

Others from neighbouring buildings ran to the scene and helped loosen Bardak's grip, allowing Buci to flee, but he chased her down.

Multiple people were then able to free her a second time, the court was told.

Buci said outside court on Thursday: "I do just want to thank everyone who has been by my side and has assisted me these past three years - the police service, the DPP, the witnesses and everyone who saved me that night. I am very grateful."

Buci said the good Samaritans were "heroic". "What they did, you don't see it every day, and I hope they don't have to see it ever again."

Bardak told the court he bought a hatchet only to force her into speaking to him again.

Asked if the verdict had given her some closure, Buci said: "It has been very hard but I have had a great support system and I got through it [the trial].

"It is a long path to healing but I will get there."

The jury found Bardak guilty on Thursday after deliberating for more than six hours.

He will be sentenced by justice Glenn Martin on Friday.