22-year-old woman sentenced in Townsville District Court for stabbing ex-boyfriends brother

A 22-year-old woman was drunk when she pulled a knife and ran at her ex-boyfriend — but he wasn’t the one who ended up stabbed. Find out what happened.

A boxing day house party had a violent ending after a 22-year-old accidentally stabbed her ex-boyfriends brother

A boxing day argument escalated when a young woman ran at her former abusive boyfriend with a knife and accidentally stabbed his brother instead.

A 22-year-old woman appeared in Townsville District Court on Tuesday after she stabbed a man in the neck with a bread knife during a house party.

Crown prosecutor Jessica Shuttleworth said on Boxing Day in 2023 she stabbed the man in the side of the neck, just below his ear, causing a wound that required three stitches.

When the mother of two spoke to police later that day, the crown said she gave the weapon – described as resembling a “bread knife” – and told officers she had brought it to the party “for protection”.

Defence barrister Molly Mahlouzarides said the woman’s abusive ex-partner had shown up at the party which had breached the Domestic Violence Order (DVO) she had against him.

His criminal history, provided to Judge Anthony Rafter, showed repeated breaches of the DVO and included an incident in which he slapped her across the face and dragged her along the ground by her shirt – all in front of police.

“He was not supposed to be in contact with her and they were seen arguing and fighting at the party,” Ms Mahlouzarides said.

The court heard the pair had both been intoxicated when the fight escalated and her ex-boyfriend’s brother intervened.

The 22-year-old then armed herself with the knife and ran at the father of her children.

However his brother was standing beside him and the knife struck the brother in the neck instead.

During the scuffle, the woman also cut her own finger which later caused issues with movement and a loss of sensation in the fingertip.

Judge Rafter highlighted her good behaviour since the incident and the absence of any prior violent history.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and the possession of a knife in a public place.

She was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for the unlawful wounding, wholly suspended for two years. Convictions were recorded.

For possession of the knife, a conviction was also recorded, but no further punishment was imposed.

Originally published as 22-year-old woman sentenced in Townsville District Court for stabbing ex-boyfriends brother