A double stabbing in Fairfield in January brought a 40-year-old Dunedin man 6 years and 9 months' jail when he appeared for sentencing in the Dunedin High Court yesterday.
Greig Logan O'Kane, a self-employed picture framer, from Fairfield, was for sentencing before Justice Graham Lang, of Auckland.
O'Kane pleaded guilty in February to attempting to murder the victim, who had broken up with him in December.
Crown counsel Richard Smith told the court the victim required emergency surgery after her liver, spleen and lungs were lacerated after being stabbed in the chest, abdomen and back in her home on January 11.
She also received tendon damage from cuts to her arms and hands as she tried to defend herself.
The summary of facts said O'Kane, who lived near the woman, slashed the tyres of her car and another nearby car after she was visited by a male friend on January 11.
O'Kane then went to the woman's door and persuaded her to unlock it, saying he wanted to apologise for his behaviour.
When she opened the door, he pulled a large carving knife from behind his back, said "So you want to end it?" and pushed her inside.
After forcing his fingers down her throat to stop her screaming he stabbed her repeatedly, before stabbing himself in the chest.
Neighbours who heard screams called police, then went to help.
As they approached the house they heard a man saying "I'm going to kill you, bitch", Mr Smith said.
The woman was in hospital for 10 days and still had limited use of her hands and arms.
O'Kane pleaded guilty to the charge of attempted murder in February.
Mr Smith suggested that in sentencing O'Kane the court should consider the extreme violence of the attack, that it was premeditated, the seriousness of the victim's injuries, her vulnerability and that the attack amounted to a home invasion.
Defence counsel Mike Newell said the accused was a respected, upstanding member of the community who had never been violent in his 18 years of marriage.
The incident was a "actual tragedy", he said. "He just lost it and snapped."
The victim, for whom O'Kane had left his wife and two children, had ended their relationship and starting seeing someone else.
O'Kane had not handled the changes well, and by December his family had become so concerned about his behaviour, mainly relating to his increased drinking, they contacted Emergency Psychiatric Services.
"He was in despair. The actual assault on the victim was a reflection of his depressive state. The combination of his obsessive personality and the obsessive nature of his feelings with his depression and the alcohol created an extreme situation."
The attack shocked everyone who knew O'Kane, as it was so out of character, Mr Newell said.
His client had immediately realised the horror of what he had done and had accepted responsibility for his actions.
"This is someone who very much regrets his moment of madness."
With regards to sentencing he suggested the court consider mitigating factors such as O'Kane's early guilty plea, his sincere remorse and regret and his otherwise good character and standing in the community.
In summing up, Justice Lang said it was clear on January 11 O'Kane had no other thought in his mind than the victim and the intention of going to her house to kill her.
"Society, Mr O'Kane, can simply not condone people attacking other people in this way. Society needs to be protected from people who act in this way."
He noted that about the time the victim ended their relationship, O'Kane started taking depression medication.
Recognising he was not well, he had visited Ashburn Clinic the day before the attack and told them he was concerned he was going to harm himself, but staff at the clinic saw him as a drunk person and did not take the matter further.
A forensic psychologist had examined O'Kane and found his depression to be mild, but he was satisfied it formed part of the trigger for the attack, along with a "significant degree of obsessiveness" and being distraught at the victim breaking up with him, Justice Lang said.
All those feelings were intensified by a increasing drinking problem.
In an impact statement supplied to the judge, the victim said she suffered severe physical injuries, from which she had still not recovered.
Further surgery was required.
She was still not recovered emotionally and had nightmares where O'Kane was standing in her room.
She felt as if people were looking at her when she was in public.
"One can only begin to imagine the trauma she suffered as she saw you produce a knife."
From a starting point of 10 years 9 months' jail, Justice Lang reduced the sentence to 6 years 9 months for O'Kane's early plea, his genuine and profound remorse and regret, the fact he had already offered to pay the victim reparation and that he had otherwise been an outstanding and respected member of the community.
"It is clear the offending arose out of circumstances unique to you and the circumstances you found yourself in."
Justice Lang did not impose a minimum serving period because he did not see O'Kane as a threat to the community.
