A father-of-four has admitted stabbing a man three times with a hunting knife - causing life-threatening injuries - for punching his partner.
After the January 24 stabbing, police said the 29-year-old victim would not be alive if he had not staggered bleeding to a nearby house where an ex-naval officer gave him first aid.
Miki Taki Tafaese appeared in Christchurch District Court today for a depositions hearing.
But the hearing did not go ahead because he decided to plead guilty to intentionally causing grievous bodily harm.
Tafaese was remanded for sentencing on June 26.
His victim received a gash on his torso 7cm long and 1cm deep, a wound under his left arm that penetrated his chest by 8cm, and a wound in the lower left abdomen that went in 3cm.
"The wounds resulted in substantial blood loss, a perforated diaphragm and a collapsed lung," police said.
Defence counsel Bridget Ayrey did not seek bail for Tafaese. He has been in custody since being arrested straight after the incident.
The incident began with the victim arguing with his own partner and eventually punching her repeatedly during a gathering in Upper Riccarton.
Tafaese's partner intervened to try to stop the bashing and the man punched her in the mouth, loosening a tooth and causing a swollen lip. She then phoned Tafaese and told him the man had punched her.
Tafaese took a hunting knife from the top of the television and drove to the man's address. He walked up the driveway with the knife in his hand and demanded to know where the man was.
The man's partner and another occupant held Tafaese's arms and pleaded with him to calm down but he carried on and found the man in the backyard, where he stabbed him.
Tafaese then drove home and disposed of the knife and his clothing. The victim staggered to a nearby house where retired naval commander Michael Pate applied pressure pads to stem the bleeding and phoned police and an ambulance.
Police said next day that if it had not been for Mr Pate's first aid skills, the victim would not have lived.
