A man found guilty of throwing a meat cleaver at his partner and narrowly missing her head has been imprisoned for two years.
Peter Anthony Laurence Atkinson, 36, had been out drinking on October 13, 2014, and returned home early the following day, waking his victim, Toni-Ann Barnett, and her 14-year-old daughter. They had been dozing in Ms Barnett's bedroom, in the house she shared with Atkinson.
The couple had argued.
Judge David Cameron said in the Whanganui District Court yesterday the couple began arguing again when Atkinson returned home, "resulting in the defendant throwing a meat cleaver at her while she was in bed, narrowly missing her and hitting the pillow beside her head".
In a judge-alone trial, Ms Barnett told Judge Cameron she jumped out of bed after Atkinson threw the cleaver.