Luke Molling sentenced for slashing friend with ring knife during Whyalla attack

After a drunken fight spilled on to the street, a man’s quirky weapon choice left his mate with a life-threatening stab wound to the neck.

A man with a quirky weapon choice left his mate with a life-threatening injury after a drunken fight in Whyalla spiralled out of control.

Luke Anthony Molling, 25, avoided jail in the District Court this week for the vicious attack that spilled onto the street.

During sentencing, the court heard Molling had been friends with the victim, John Toms, for about five years.

Molling went to Mr Toms’ Whyalla Stuart home on July 6, 2021 and began drinking.

Mr Toms complained Molling was playing music too loud and asked him to leave.

Luke Molling was sentenced to home detention for the vicious attack. Photo: File

“As you walked out, you picked up a ring knife that was on the table,” Justice Julie McIntyre said.

“The ring had a small blade attached to it.”

Molling turned around and swung at Mr Toms and the duo began wrestling out in the front yard, ending up in the street.

Molling and Mr Toms continued fighting, with Molling walking towards his nearby home.

“Mr Toms began following you before he realised that he was bleeding heavily from the neck, and that he was in pain,” Justice McIntyre said.

“Despite this, he went to your house and bashed on the front door, shouting that you had stabbed him in the neck.”

Molling started yelling at Mr Toms, and said something like “I’ll f***ing stab you again”,

Mr Toms was taken to hospital.

“He suffered a life-threatening stab wound to the left side of his neck that affected major blood vessels and impacted his breathing,” Justice McIntyre said.

Mr Toms was given emergency care, including being intubated, before being airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

“Fortunately, he recovered, but if it had not been for the excellent medical care that Mr Toms received, you may well have been facing a far more serious charge,” Justice McIntyre said.

Molling, of Ethelton, pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.

The court heard Molling began abusing drugs and alcohol in his teenage years, including cannabis and methamphetamine.

The court heard Molling has made “very significant progress” on his rehabilitation, returning negative results to a number of random drugs tests.

The court heard Molling had written an apology letter to Mr Toms, expressing hope to repair their friendship.

Molling was sentenced to two years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and six months.

“This was a drunken fight between mates, and that you did not turn your mind to the specific harm that you caused,” Judge McIntyre said.

“Once you introduced the knife into the situation, the potential for serious harm is obvious.”

Judge McIntyre ordered Molling serve the sentence on home detention.