Woman who stabbed partner ‘lucky not to kill’

Gisborne Courthouse. File picture by Rebecca Grunwell

JUDGE Warren Cathcart told a woman in Gisborne District Court that she was lucky not to have killed her partner when she stabbed him in the left side of his chest, nicking his lung.

Sarah Colleen Gray, 22, was sentenced to 19 months imprisonment but converted that to nine-and-a-half months home detention, with six months standard and special post-detention conditions.

She pleaded guilty just ahead of a scheduled trial in July on charges of assault and wounding with intent to injure.

In addition to the sentence, Gray received a three strikes warning on the injuring charge.

The charges arose out of an incident about 5.45pm one evening two years ago. Gray stabbed her partner without warning during an argument over personal matters. She had also repeatedly punched him.

The serrated butter knife caused a 2.5cm wound to the left side of his chest.

Gray’s actions could easily have proved fatal, the judge said. She was lucky not to be facing a far more serious charge and lengthy term of imprisonment.

The sentence included a discount of four months to account for Gray’s relative youth at the time (she was 20). The judge said that reduction was tempered by Gray having a previous conviction for assault.

Her belated guilty plea warranted a discount of five percent from the 25 percent available.

Counsel Mark Sceats said in line with her youth at the time, Gray acted impulsively.

Her behaviour also arose out of a situation in which there had been prior domestic violence towards her.