kingpin007
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Stimulus spent on drugs leads to attack
# December 22, 2009 4:10PM
AN delaide man who spent his Federal Government stimulus payment on amphetamines has been jailed for stabbing his drug-using housemate up to 17 times.
The South Australian Supreme Court has heard the attack, four days before Christmas last year, appeared to have been sparked by a lack of sugar in the house.
Imposing sentence on Steven Charles Cairns today, Justice Ann Vanstone said in the days leading up to the incident both Cairns and his victim, Mark Woods, had spent most of the $1400 they received from the Federal Government on amphetamines and other drugs.
The pair then went on a drug binge, staying up all night and generally being "out of it", the judge said.
The night before the attack Mr Woods lost his temper because of a lack of sugar in the house, which Cairns was supposed to buy.
"In his anger he (Mr Woods) demolished a coffee table and a DVD player, as well as attacking you," Justice Vanstone told Cairns.
The 36-year-old fled the house but when he returned the next day, Mr Woods attacked him again, this time armed with a large kitchen fork and a knife.
Cairns armed himself with a knife and inflicted between 14 and 17 stab wounds on his housemate, at least one of which was serious and resulted in substantial blood loss.
A jury later acquitted Cairns of attempted murder but found him guilty of causing harm with intent to cause harm.
Justice Vanstone said the verdict was consistent with the jury accepting that the accused had genuinely believed that the action he took was reasonable and necessary.
However, she said given that Cairns was the superior fighter he went too far.
"Indeed I am satisfied that at some point in the course of events what had started out as self-defence became retaliation against Woods, for what I can accept was excessively provocative behaviour," Justice Vanstone said.
The judge jailed Cairns for three years and nine months and set a non-parole period of one year and four months.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-new...-leads-to-attack/story-e6frfku0-1225812849590