Dad knifed his son during argument on Christmas Day
VICTIM HAD TO HAVE HIS SPLEEN REMOVED
A MAN made an emotional video call to his girlfriend to tell her he loved her and thought he was, “going to die”, after his own father had stabbed him. Luckas Fugler, 28, had argued with his dad, Mark Fugler, on Christmas Day. The pair fell out over £500 owed in missed rent when Luckas’ parents were guarantors, Nottingham Crown Court head.
Mark Fugler also made some unpleasant comments about his son’s partner who had announced she was expecting a child. “There was pushing and shoving which led to a fist fight between them,” said Anthony Cheung, prosecuting. Mrs Fugler came out to see her son standing over his dad punching him to the head three or four times. As she screamed, the defendant got off the floor, went inside and grabbed a kitchen knife.
He went back towards his son, pulling his wife out of the way, and punched him. Luckas felt a sharp pain to his left side and could not breathe.
His dad, of Southwell Road West, Mansfield, said he was going to kill him, while Luckas staggered onto the street and made the video call to his partner.
Police arrived to find Luckas Fugler in blood-drenched clothes with a stab wound to his side. He was resuscitated at hospital, but he lost his spleen and will require antibiotics for at least two years.
His statement revealed how he was greatly affected. However, he did not want to see his father sent to prison.
Mitigating, Shannon English said Mark Fugler is 59 and a father-of-two. “It is fair to say there is no suggestion he had been anything but a good father prior to the commission of this offence”.
Mrs Fugler has stood by her husband of nearly 30 years and remains with him, offering him support, she said. They both have carer responsibilities for a member of the family with Alzheimer’s.
Of the offence, Ms English said: “Unfortunately, on this date, he made a very, very grave mistake which he will have to live with for the rest of his life”.
Judge Rupert Mayo sentenced Fugler to two years and four months in prison for an offence of wounding which he admitted.
He told Fugler he had stabbed his son in the side of his body, penetrating his lung, and damaging his spleen, which had to be removed.
“You are not a man unacquainted with violence,” he added. “In 2020, you arranged a fight with an opposing football fanatic and caused a fracture to his cheekbone.”