Meth-fuelled stabbing leads to prison

A man who stabbed his exgirlfriend’s father multiple times was suffering from psychosis brought on by his meth addiction, a court has heard.

Samuel Paikea Karl, 30, was sentenced in the Nelson District Court yesterday to a year and 11 months’ jail on a wounding with reckless disregard charge.

In November 2018, Karl entered the man’s Tahunanui home through an unlocked ranch slider and confronted him while he was lying in bed watching TV, the court heard.

He struck him in the head with his fist, knocked his glasses from his face which caused him to fall backwards. He then unleashed a barrage of ‘‘thumping and striking’’ blows all over his body.

When Karl left the room the man pushed a bookcase across the door to barricade himself inside and called emergency services.

He was taken to Nelson Hospital by ambulance. A doctor said his injuries included multiple 10mm stab wounds near his left ear, the back of his neck, left armpit and left hip.

He had a number of stab wounds over his left shoulder, a penetration injury to his spleen and a possible collapsed lung.

A psychiatric report showed at the time of the offending Karl had a ‘‘severe psychotic disorder’’.

It said while the motivation for the offending was not clear, Karl had ‘‘some sort of delusional belief’’ about the victim and what he may have been responsible for.

A Corrections report said Karl did not have ‘‘great recall of what had occurred’’ because he was in a psychotic state driven by his use of cannabis and methamphetamine.

He had shown some remorse, had worked with a prison psychologist and begun taking medication.

Crown prosecutor Mark O’Donoghue said Karl lacked insight as he saw his drug abuse and mental health as different issues.

His background made for ‘‘sad reading’’ which contributed to his offending. He was a patched member of the Nomads gang and remained affiliated with them.

‘‘The voluntary consumption of drugs has led to the psychotic episode that led to the violence.’’

Defence lawyer Tony Bamford said ‘‘the whole concept of voluntary consumption of drugs is a myth’’.

Addiction at a certain level meant the drive for drugs was ‘‘akin to a survival instinct’’.

‘‘There is nothing voluntary about it,’’ Bamford said.

Judge Barkle agreed and said: ‘‘I hear you, addiction is an illness.’’

Judge Barkle said the aggravating features of the offending were that it took place in the victim’s home, and that it was an attack to the upper body and head using a weapon that caused serious harm.