A Brisbane woman who was violently attacked by her partner with a hatchet has praised the "absolutely amazing" bystanders who saved her, saying they are "the reason I am alive today" after the man responsible was convicted of her attempted murder.
Cameron Bardak was on trial in the Supreme Court in Brisbane accused of trying to kill Maria Buci in the parking garage of her CBD workplace in July 2020.
The 32-year-old pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, but after hearing several days of evidence the jury took one day to deliver a unanimous verdict.
When the guilty finding was handed down, Bardak did not react.
Ms Buci sobbed in the gallery behind him as a supporter said "thank God".
Outside court, Ms Buci said she was "very happy".
"The justice system has prevailed today," she said.
During the trial the jury heard Bardak admitted to hitting Ms Buci with a hatchet twice and then choking her, but denied he intended to murder her.
In his defence, he testified his "idea wasn't to hurt her" and he had only been trying to reconcile their relationship which had ended abruptly earlier that day but the situation escalated "out of control".
Bardak claimed he brought the hatchet to use as a "coercive measure" to manipulate her into speaking to him but it "never crossed my mind" to use it to kill her.
Part of the incident was captured on CCTV and showed bystanders rushing to help a screaming Ms Buci who was being choked by Bardak on the floor.
Ms Buci thanked the "absolutely amazing" people who came to her rescue almost three years ago.
"Everyone who saved me that night," she said.
"They are the reason I am alive today, I'm very grateful."
Ms Buci said sitting through the trial and giving evidence had been "very hard" but she had a great support system.
"It is a long path to healing, but I will get there," she said.
"I'm just hoping for a fair sentence for the charges."
Bardak is expected to be sentenced tomorrow afternoon.
