Man who hit wife with an axe is jailed

A woman whose husband struck her in the head with an axe wrote to a judge saying she could not imagine he would intentionally hit her.

Terry Mathew Dean, 52, limped as he walked into the New Plymouth District Court yesterday, where he was jailed for the March 28 attack that left his wife needing medical attention.

Judge Peter Rollo said Dean and his wife had been at home when an argument developed.

Dean said he was leaving for a few days and gathered together a few clothes in a bag before he threatened to smash a TV in the house.

He then went went outside where he picked up a small axe. As he went back inside his wife tried to stop him.

‘‘You have struck her across the head with the axe, which caused a cut to her forehead, which required medical attention and suturing,’’ Rollo said.

He said Dean had also hit her twice on the leg with the handle of the axe and smashed the TV.

Dean initially pleaded not guilty to charges of wilful damage and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but changed his pleas to guilty after the charges were amended to assault with a weapon and wilful damage.

During sentencing, Rollo said Dean still had the support of his wife despite the attack.

‘‘She said that you would not intentionally hurt her,’’ the judge told Dean.

‘‘It’s most fortunate that your wife didn’t suffer more serious injury.’’

Defence lawyer Turitea Bolstad said Dean was willing to attend counselling and any other support networks that could be offered to him to ensure the same kind of behaviour did not occur again.

She also emphasised to the court the importance of Dean’s wife’s support.

‘‘I ask that you take her view of wanting to support him and wanting to get counselling.’’

Bolstad said Dean had health issues and had been taken to A&E six times while he was on remand.

‘‘He struggles to maintain good health in the prison environment,’’ Bolstad said.

Crown prosecutor Georgia Milne highlighted the fact Dean hadn’t pleaded guilty immediately, and instead waited until the charges were amended.

Before the sentencing, Bolstad initially asked for the matter to be remanded for three weeks after the house where Dean had hoped to serve home detention was found to be unsuitable.

However, Rollo decided to deal with it on the day and sentenced him to 14 months’ imprisonment, with leave to apply for home detention once a suitable place was found.

Rollo also gave Dean a twomonth reduction for his illness, which he said would make the sentence ‘‘unduly harsh’’, giving Dean a final sentence of 12 months on both charges.