A man who stalked his wife and attacked her with a knife was lucky not to be facing a more serious charge, Judge Michael Hobbs said in the Christchurch District Court yesterday.
Craig Terrence Winter, aged 31, stood in the dock for sentence on charges of injuring his wife with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and threatening to kill her.
Counsel Elizabeth Bulger told the court that the charges - which Winter had admitted - had been reduced from the original charge of attempted murder.
She accepted that the home invasion legislation penalties applied to the March 20 incident, when Winter entered the home of his estranged wife through an unlocked door and threatened and attacked her in front of their children.
"He is a man who thought he was likely to lose a relationship which had been very valuable to him, and two small children who were then and remain now very dear to him," said Miss Bulger.
Winter was very sorry for the incident. His wife had received a minor injury, but no permanent physical damage.
Judge Hobbs said: "It is tragic to see this man before the court on these charges. One can only feel the greatest sympathy for the victim and more particularly for the children, who were innocent bystanders."
He said the event had caused considerable trauma for Winter's wife. The victim had received stab wounds to her forearm, but she had stopped Winter stabbing her in the chest, partly by fighting and partly because of his intoxication.
The judge noted that Winter was a first offender, had pleaded guilty early, and had support from family and friends.
He sentenced him to a total ofnte 3 1/2 years' jail.
- NZPA
Man jailed for attacking wife with knife
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