Couple's 'frenzied' knife attacker jailed

File photo / NZ Herald

An unexplained, unprovoked knife attack on a Christchurch couple led to a man today being jailed for six years nine months.

Police at the time of the attack described it as frenzied.

Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Erber imposed a non-parole period of three years four months on Christopher Barrie Story, 20, who was sentenced at the Rangiora Court House today.

He had attended a party next door to his victims' home in suburban Hornby on the night of February 11. He went on to their property about 2.40am and took a pot plant, and when the couple and their son went outdoors they heard him laughing about it.

They went on to a shared driveway, but Story went up to the man and attacked him with an army-style knife with a 10cm blade. The man avoided the blow and he, his wife, and son went back into their property.

Story followed them and attacked the wife, stabbing her six times. The man got Story in a headlock, but was stabbed in the shoulder. The 19-year-old son threw a pot plant at Story, hitting him in the head and ending the attack.

Story told police he had lost self-control because the family told him he was worthless.

Defence counsel Kerry Cook said the attack was unexplained, unprovoked and seriously violent, but immediately regretted.

He said Story had previous good character, and no previous convictions. He was genuinely remorseful, and was willing to attend a restorative justice conference. He had offered to pay an emotional harm payment to the family.

Crown prosecutor Sally Carter said it was a particularly nasty incident which had had a lasting effect on both the victims.

She said the wife could no longer spend time with grandchildren, and she could not do day-to-day chores.

The family were appalled at the prospect of a meeting with the accused, she said.

Judge Stephen Erber said Story was being sentenced after admitting two charges of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm.

He said the woman received a punctured lung, and muscle damage to her chest, and spent six days in hospital. The man's stab wound went through his shoulder and exited by his armpit and he was in hospital for two days.

Their victim impact reports said the wife had physical therapy twice a week, and had limited movement. She could not sleep and had to take drugs to control the pain.

The man lost five weeks' work, and both said they did not feel safe and their children were upset and scared.

Judge Erber said they both suffered serious harm, and both could easily have been killed.

He said Story's probation report said he was intellectually slow, and had been bullied at school.

Judge Erber sentenced Story to prison and also ordered him to pay an emotional harm payment of $5000 to each victim.

- NZPA