Whangarei man jailed for stabbing loan lender

A Whangarei man who went to repay a loan ended up stabbing the lender after the latter provoked him.

Maxwell Hussey, 27, earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and another of breach of release conditions and appeared for sentencing in the Whangarei District Court last week. Hussey was jailed for three years and 10 months.

The victim did not entirely agree with the police summary of facts and a disputed facts hearing was held on January 20.

Some new information was brought to the court's attention halfway through that process. Details of the new information is suppressed.

Judge John McDonald said Hussey and the victim had known each other since 2009. On the evening of April 5 last year, Hussey went to the other man's home to repay $250 he earlier borrowed.

There was a brief discussion and Hussey stabbed the man in the stomach with a kitchen knife after he was provoked by him.

The victim then fled to the bathroom and locked himself in while Hussey left the property.

Judge McDonald said there was no justification for attacking a much older man and that Hussey could have resolved the matter in a peaceful way.

There was no premeditation but the attack caused a serious injury to the victim, he said.

Judge McDonald imposed a sentence of three years and 10 months on the charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and a further six-month concurrent sentence on the other charge.