Kane Peter Connolly awaits sentencing after stabbing a 65-year-old Huntfield Heights man

A man who stabbed a grandfather in the neck after meeting him at a shopping centre hours earlier was suffering from delusions, a court has heard.

The man responsible for stabbing a 65-year-old grandfather in the neck was not complying with his correct medication at the time, a court has heard.

Kane Connolly is awaiting his sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated causing harm.

Last month, the District Court heard Connolly was most likely suffering from a “drug-induced psychosis” as he had not been complying with his medication regime.

“We say that this happened in something of a delusional state,” Connolly’s defence counsel submitted to the court.

The home where the stabbing occurred in 2021. Picture: Dean Martin

Blood can be seen at the front door. Picture Dean Martin

At the initial hearing, the court heard that just after 2pm on September 5, 2021, the victim was at a southern suburbs shopping centre where he met Connolly for the first time.

“He never learnt his name during the day,” the prosecutor said.

“They struck up a conversation before returning to the victim’s home address.”

Connolly left the property to purchase some alcohol but returned a short time later empty-handed.

It was further submitted to the court, upon Connolly’s return, the pair engaged in a verbal argument, with the victim asking Connolly to leave.

The victim sought assistance from neighbours after being stabbed. Picture Dean Martin

A few hours later, in the early hours of Monday morning, the victim heard a knock at his front door, when he opened the door Connolly stabbed him in the neck with a sharp knife before fleeing the scene.

The victim went to a neighbouring property to seek assistance.

“The offence of being stabbed in the neck with a knife, by its very nature, carried with it a serious risk to the complainant though thankfully his injury was not as serious as it could have been,” prosecution submitted to the court.

“That being said, the laceration to the victim’s neck was cleaned and sealed with sutures and was not assessed to be life threatening.

“In my submission this is a serious offence and an immediate custodial penalty is called for.”

Connolly has remained in custody since September 9, 2021, a total of two years and one month at the time of his hearing.

Connolly was initially arrested and charged with attempted murder but the charge has since been downgraded to one count of aggravated causing harm.

Connolly will return for sentencing at a later date.