The Southland Times

Woman stabs partner, wants relationsh­ip

- Evan Harding

A Southland woman who stabbed her partner during a drunken argument about six months ago has written him 170 letters since the assault and wants to resume the relationsh­ip.

He has read them all and says it’s possible they will be together again.

Jeanette Ann Ferguson, 51, who pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with reckless disregard, was sentenced to 18-months prison by Judge Mark Callaghan when she appeared in the Invercargi­ll District Court yesterday.

Judge Callaghan said Ferguson was at home drinking with her partner in Riverton at the time of the assault.

They were both intoxicate­d when an argument developed and she picked up a knife and lashed out at him.

The man received a gash 6cm long and laceration­s to his hand.

‘‘You told police you had cut the victim but he was being abusive during the argument.’’

She was remorseful and said it was a spur of the moment incident, the judge said.

The victim had received a lot of correspond­ence from Ferguson since the stabbing incident, the judge said.

‘‘He says it’s clear you are remorseful and it’s a possibilit­y the relationsh­ip will continue.’’

Defence lawyer Fergus More said Ferguson had sent the man 170 letters, all of which he had read.

‘‘There’s a possibilit­y of a relationsh­ip developing,’’ More said.

Also in the Invercargi­ll District Court yesterday, Judge Callaghan sentenced Daniel James Simpson, 22, to seven months home detention after he admitted charges of burglary, possession of a firearm and wilful damage.

An $18,000 motorbike was stolen from a garage in the burglary and it had not been recovered.

The judge, who said the burglary was planned, ordered Simpson to pay $18,000 reparation.

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