Jail for Kiwi man who slit son-in-law's throat

Rodney Cohen flew to St Albans in England where he cut his son-in-law's throat with a steak knife. Photo / Thinkstock

A New Zealand man has been jailed for six years after flying to England and slitting the throat of his son-in-law with a steak knife.

Rodney Cohen, 68, had flown over to the city of St Albans after learning that his daughter Jane's marriage to her husband Declan Campbell, 41, was on the rocks, the Daily Mail reported.

St Albans Crown Court heard the attack happened on July 26 as Cohen and they were drinking beer on a balcony together.

Cohen suddenly crept up behind Mr Campbell, pulled his head back and cut his neck with the knife, the Daily Mail reported.

He reportedly admitted the attack to police, telling them they had been arguing and Mr Campbell had made derogatory comments about his daughter, who was away at the time.

The court heard the couple had married in July 2013 after meeting four months earlier.

Mr Campbell told the court he thought Cohen was joking when he first approached him with the knife and it was only when blood poured out did he realise what had happened.

He narrowly missed his jugular vein and left blood pouring from a 10cm wound, the Daily Mail reported.

Judge Stephen Gullick told Cohen he had come to England with the intention of assisting his daughter.

"You came over to this country because your daughter's marriage was on the rocks.

"You and your son-in-law had been and bought some alcohol. You then got a hold of him by the head and effectively you slit his throat.

"You cut the skin of his throat but you did not cause any injury to the internal organs which is fortunate but a matter of luck rather than judgement."

Cohen was sentenced to six years in prison on a charge of wounding with intent.

Mr Campbell told the Daily Mail outside court that he had not seen his wife since the attack and that Cohen's six-year sentence was not enough.

"It is a total injustice as far as I am concerned. I was expecting him to get a lot more. He was trying to kill me, he wanted to murder me.

"I have had nightmares and the attack will always be in the back of my mind. It has shattered my confidence and I will live with this for the rest of my life.

"The amount of blood was like something out of a Halloween horror film. I had to hold my jugular together with my fingers to keep me alive."