A disturbed individual, Nick Boak, who worked as an accountant and claimed to be a decorated soldier, committed a vicious crime by slitting the throat of an innocent stranger at a shopping mall. Boak fabricated a fantasy life where he portrayed himself as an SAS veteran and winner of the Victoria Cross for bravery. His victim, Michael Eaton, was a lonely father who frequented the mall and enjoyed talking with shop staff. On a September morning in 2021, Boak, in a psychotic state, began ranting erratically at Mr. Eaton. Despite Mr. Eaton’s attempts to brush off the outbursts, Boak suddenly attacked him from behind, slashing his throat with a knife. Mr. Eaton unfortunately succumbed to his injuries, leaving bystanders and emergency services unable to save him. Boak, a Brisbane-born accountant who had been working at holiday resorts, was arrested nearby shortly after the incident, leading to the revelation of his delusional past. He had falsely claimed to be an SAS hero with military experience in various conflicts and had even posed as a secret service spy. However, Boak’s true background was that of a mild-mannered accountant and fitness enthusiast who had studied in Victoria. Despite joining the Australian Army Reserves and attending Duntroon Royal Military College, there was no record of him seeing any actual combat. In the months leading up to the attack, Boak had started his own business while employed as an auditor. His lies were eventually exposed by a group of former soldiers dedicated to exposing fake soldiers online. Boak had relocated from Victoria to Queensland in 2018 and struggled to make friends in the area. Before the attack, he had reached out on social media in an attempt to connect with people in the Cairns region. Boak was considered too dangerous to appear in court following his arrest and was ultimately found to be of unsound mind. He was transferred to a high-security psychiatric unit for treatment. Detective Inspector Kevin Goan expressed condolences to Mr. Eaton’s family and acknowledged his kind and pleasant nature. The family requested privacy during this difficult time, particularly for Mr. Eaton’s elderly mother.

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