Attempted murder seen as ‘cry for help’
A woman’s attempt to cut her partner’s throat with a small, blunt knife used for peeling potatoes was described as “a desperate cry for help” by the High Court judge who sentenced her today.
The attack did virtually no damage to the woman’s partner – police photographs show a slight mark rather than a wound.
It has led Justice Nick Davidson to conclude that it was not a “determined” murder attempt and to allow a home detention sentence at the woman’s present home in Bexley.
He continued interim name suppression for the woman, a 47-year-old shop assistant, until he receives further submissions on the issue from defence counsel Fiona Guy Kidd and the Crown.
The sentencing took place in the High Court at Christchurch today with the judge and the woman and her defence counsel present, but the Crown prosecutor and the victim viewing proceedings by video-link from Invercargill.
Justice Davidson said he was pleased that the victim was seeing the session because his remarks would reflect on the man’s behaviour as well as the woman’s.
The man has offered forgiveness to the woman and accepts his own role in the events of the night in rural Southland on February 11, at the end of a four-year relationship that was difficult and fractious.
The relationship has ended.
Justice Davidson said it was “manifestly not a case for imprisonment” and the emphasis was on finding the woman a safe harbour where she could be restored to health.
He restricted reporting of the mental health issues raised at the sentencing, but media were allowed to say that the issues arose from longstanding partially treated depression and associated anxieties, coupled with the use of alcohol and cannabis.
He sentenced her to eight months’ home detention with a requirement that she undergo psychiatric treatment or counselling as required, and alcohol and drug treatment, and that she not possess or consume alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
The incident began with a night’s drinking at a rural Southland hotel. An offer of a sober driver was rejected and the woman drove her partner home. She was deliberately erratic with the driving, and her partner got out and walked the last part of the journey.
“There was no doubt that the effects of intoxication were a significant element in what occurred,” said Justice Davidson.
There was an argument at the house, and the partner then kicked a china cabinet and contents that was a family hierloom that had belonged to the woman’s grandmother, causing damage.
“Why didn’t you just hit me?” the woman asked him.
There had been discussions in the family about whether the woman should even have possession of such valuable property.
The woman went outside, had a cigarette, and texted a friend to tell them to call the police beforehand, and she phoned the police herself afterwards.
Her actions were triggered by the events of the evening, and symptomatic of “longstanding angst”. He saw it as “a desperate cry for help”, the judge said.
She went to the kitchen, and picked up a small, blunt knife that was usually used for peeling potatoes. She then sat behind the man on the bed, pulled his head backwards, and drew the knife across his throat. A struggle followed, but the man did not need medical attention for his minor injury.
Sharper knives were available to the woman. “It was a curious choice of weapon, which says something about your ambivalence,” the judge commented.
Category: News
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