Woman who attacked husband disarmed by nurses at hospital

A WOMAN who viciously attacked her ex-husband with a knife at a Queensland hospital was disarmed by nurses before producing a second blade and slitting his throat.

Nikki Leanne Huth pleaded guilty to attempted murder, wounding and two counts of assault when she faced Townsville Supreme Court on Friday.

The 31-year-old armed herself with two large kitchen knives on August 28, 2016, and drove about two and half hours from Dalby to Toowong Private Hospital to attack her ex-husband Nathan James Craker.

When Mr Craker, his new partner and her young children returned to his hospital room after eating dinner in a common room to find Huth waiting in the dark.

Crown prosecutor Phil McCarthy said Huth then rushed at Mr Craker, brandishing a 21-inch blade above her shoulder.

Mr Craker turned and ran but almost immediately tripped over a coffee table and fell to the floor.

Huth then sunk the large knife into her ex’s left thigh.

“He immediately felt pain to his left leg and he sustained a laceration to his left leg above the knee,” Mr McCarthy said. “It was 25cm long and 5cm deep.”

Huth continued her attack and Mr Cracker suffered significant cuts to his hands attempting to defend himself.

Mr McCarthy said nurses were able to restrain Huth while another patient disarmed her.

Once the weapon was removed from the scene nurses let go of Huth who assaulted Mr Cracker’s new partner and returned to his hospital room to retrieve the second knife.

“(Huth) returned form the room … she was brandishing another knife which again had a 21cm blade,” Mr McCarthy said.

“The prisoner pinned Mr Craker to the ground using her body, she then placed Mr Craker in a headlock and used the second knife in one movement to slice across Mr Crakers’ throat.”

Mr Craker suffered a 15cm gash across his throat which Mr McCarthy said would have been fatal if it had not been for the immediate treatment he received form hospital staff.

Hospital staff again managed to restrain and disarm Huth before police arrived.

Bodycam footage from responding officers was played in court which showed Huth complaining of being hurt by arresting officers while her ex-husband was being treated on the bloodied hospital floor in the background.

Mr McCarthy said the premeditation of the attack and the fact it occurred in the presence of children and other members of the public, were significant aggravating factors.

The court heard Huth and Mr Craker had split in 2014 and there were ongoing disputes between the pair relating to the separation.

Defence barrister Amelia Loode said her client had taken “two points” of methamphetamine prior to the attack and the drug was somewhat foreign to her as she hadn’t taken it in a decade.

Ms Loode said Huth had borderline personality disorder.

She said Huth had been in custody since her arrest and had been regularly engaging with a psychiatrist, taking medication and had taking education opportunities.

Ms Loode said Huth understood her actions were wrong and submitted to the court a letter of apology from Huth to Mr Craker showing her remorse.

Justice David North said the attack was “premeditated, planned and persistent”.

Taking into account her early guilty plea and efforts towards rehabilitation while incarcerated Justice North sentenced Huth to 13 years’ jail. 823 days were declared as time already served. A serious violent offence was declared meaning Huth will serve at least 80 per cent of her sentence before the possibility of parole. -Townsville Bulletin