Argument ends in stabbing

JAILTIME: A man has been sentenced to fourteen months' imprisonment after stabbing an associate in the back during a social gathering in Hastings last year. PHOTO/FILE

A man sentenced to jail time for stabbing an associate walked free yesterday, despite having been sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment for stabbing the man after arguing with him at a social gathering.

Abulkadir Mohammed Farah appeared for sentence on one count of injuring with intent to injure before Judge Geoff Rea in the Napier District Court yesterday. However he was released immediately due to time served and no release conditions were set.

Farah had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis at a Hastings address on the evening of September 6, 2016 when he entered into an argument in the property's backyard with an associate.

He picked up a full bottle of beer and struck the associate with it before he was told to leave the man alone by another associate.

Farah then proceeded to go into the kitchen and arm himself with a large kitchen knife, returning to the backyard to stab the man in the lower right back.

The knife pierced the man's skin and he went to the police station to report the incident before being taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital for treatment. A single knife wound measuring 20mm was stitched.

Farah was located by police the following day and in explanation he said he had stabbed the associate in self-defence.

Yesterday Judge Rea said he agreed with Crown prosecutor Megan Mitchell on a starting point of 18 months' imprisonment and gave Farah a reduction of four months for his guilty plea.

He was released immediately due to time served and no release conditions were set.