Jealous husband jailed seven years

A jealous Dannevirke man who sprayed petrol on his estranged wife before slashing her new male friend has been jailed for 7-1/2 years.

Painter Ivan Colin Rowell, 51, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault with intent to injure and injuring with intent to injure following the April 18 incident.

He cried when sentenced in the High Court at Palmerston North yesterday, the Manawatu Standard reported.

The court was told how Rowell went to his family home armed with a knife and weed-sprayer filled with petrol about a month after the relationship broke up.

When his wife opened the door during dinner he sprayed her with petrol before attacking her male companion with the knife.

Crown prosecutor Alastair Hall said it was an "absolutely gratuitous" attack which left internal organs hanging out and required extensive surgery.

Rowell's step daughter was also wounded as a result of the struggle, which continued outside when he caught up with his wife and punched her in the nose, stomach and back of the head.

She said in a victim impact statement the attacks were brutal and she thought her friend was going to die.

In defence, lawyer Fergus Steedman said Rowell was in despair after the break-up and considered his world had come to an end.

Rowell surrendered when police caught up with him and was given a five-year reduction in his sentence by Justice Alan MacKenzie because of his early plea and the circumstances.

- NZPA