Woman had bragged of knife attack

Police told ‘I stuck it in real good’

A WOMAN bragged she “stuck it in her real good” after stabbing her victim who was desperately seeking help from police.

Matilda Rose Fulford went on a “rampage” in March 2018 which ended with her stabbing a woman twice near the Garbutt Police Beat.

Fulford was sentenced to four-and-a-half years jail after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm when she faced Townsville District Court on Thursday.

The court heard Fulford approached her victim, called her a “slut” and punched her in the face before producing a knife and threatening to stab her.

“She retreated to the Garbutt Police Beat, which was nearby,” Judge William Everson said.

“You then attacked her with a knife and stabbed her in the groin … she was desperately trying to get police to assist her.

“You stabbed her in the stomach, above the hip, and the blade of the knife snapped off and remained inside her abdomen.

“When police asked where the knife was you said ‘probably inside her because I stuck it in real good’.”

The victim had to undergo emergency surgery to repair sections of her bowel.

In the fortnight leading up to the attack, Fulford had sworn at police when they busted her with drugs and smashed a car windscreen after threatening a man with a stick.

The court heard Fulford had lived a highly traumatic life. In 1997 she acquired a brain injury when she was stabbed in the head.

Judge Everson said Fulford had been homeless since her husband was killed and she suffered great psychiatric issues including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Defence barrister Kelly Stone said Fulford’s mental health issues, as well as the abuse of cannabis and alcohol, were factors in her violent behaviour.

“She is doing what she can to get her problems under control,” Mr Stone said.

“(A psychologist) describes her intellect as borderline mentally retarded.

“She recognises she has to get off the grog and marijuana.”

Judge Everson said he had to balance all the factors of the case, including Fulford’s mental health, when determining a sentence.

Taking into account 446 days she had already spent in custody, Fulford will be eligible for parole on September 17, 2019.

YOU STABBED HER IN THE STOMACH, ABOVE THE HIP, AND THE BLADE OF THE KNIFE SNAPPED OFF AND REMAINED INSIDE HER ABDOMEN.

JUDGE WILLIAM EVERSON