George Alexander Freeman jailed for slashing, stabbing now ex-wife Carron Wickens with knife at North Haven
A former butcher could be out of jail in less than four years for slashing and stabbing his now ex-wife with a $6 knife he’d bought several days earlier.
A former butcher and mental health nurse who stabbed and sliced his wife to near death in an “unprovoked, sudden and frightening” attack motivated by his festering anger at her plans to leave him could be released from jail in less than four years.
George Alexander Freeman, 61, launched a premeditated attack on his wife of seven years at their North Haven home on December 7, 2017, with a $6, 30cm knife he bought five days earlier from The Reject Shop.
He was jailed for nine years and 10 months in the Supreme Court on Thursday, with a non-parole period of 5½ years.
Outside court, his now ex-wife Carron Wickens said “no amount of sentence would right the wrong inflicted by my husband, George Freeman, on that day” and implored domestic violence victims to value their worth and silently escape from abusive relationships.
In sentencing, Justice Sam Doyle said the incident was “not a fleeting episode nor was your intention to kill momentary” and the attack itself lasted “several minutes”.
On the day, Freeman — who was still sharing a home with Ms Wickens — rushed into her bedroom, closed the door and blocked her exit while holding a knife.
He stabbed, slashed and sliced her multiple times.
“Your offending was not spontaneous. There was no incident that immediately preceded or precipitated your attack, rather it appears you chose a time when it would be opportune to attack Ms Wickens, being shortly after her son had left for work that morning,” he said.
He said Freeman also left and returned to Ms Wickens — who lay motionless on the floor — to continue the attack.
Despite her begging and his qualifications as a nurse, he did not render any help or call an ambulance immediately. Instead, he phoned her elderly father first.
Justice Doyle said it was fortunate Freeman eventually called emergency services “because without their intervention you may well have been facing a sentence for an even more serious offence today”.
“Not surprisingly, given the unprovoked, sudden and frightening nature of the attack, the incident has had a significant and continuing psychological impact on Ms Wickens,” Justice Doyle said.
Freeman, who previously pleaded guilty to a count of attempted murder which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, has been in custody since the incident.
Justice Doyle found the offending “out of character” for Freeman, who suffers from steadily worsening Parkinson’s disease, cognitive impairment, diminished control over emotions and depression.
“Your difficulties to some extent mitigate your objective moral culpability for your offending.”
He also accepted Freeman was remorseful and contrite.
Justice Doyle said Ms Wickens described the relationship as “somewhat dysfunctional” leading up to the attack and that Freeman had behaved in a “controlling manner”.
In an apology letter to Ms Wickens, Freeman said he was trying to understand his behaviour and “the real George would never have hurt you … I will always love you”.
“Words cannot express how sorry I am,” he said in the letter.
In her victim impact statement, which she read to the court at a hearing last month, Ms Wickens detailed the horrific attack that nearly claimed her life and how she begged Freeman to call an ambulance as she was crumbling to the floor.
“At no stage did you try to stop my bleeding, instead you threw clothing from the washbasket on me and callously slapped the knife in and out of my right hand,” she said.
“You showed no remorse or compassion and left me to die.”
Her multiple injuries included numerous stab wounds to various parts of her body including her lungs and spine, which required surgery.
She also suffered nerve damage, has ongoing restricted movement in her upper back, right hand and arm and has lost the ability to feel water temperature when showering.
Her psychological injuries include post-traumatic stress disorder.
Outside court, Ms Wickens had a message for anyone in an abusive relationship.
“To those men and women who are in abusive relationships, I encourage you to value your worth, recognise the signs of abuse, seek help and plan your escape silently to protect the safety of yourself and loved ones,” she said.
Experts warn the time when a woman tries to leave an abusive relationship is often the most risky.
Frontline workers encourage women in abusive relationships to seek support when planning to leave.
“Whilst I live with the memory of the violent attack from someone I loved and trusted as well as physical and emotional impacts of the many injuries sustained, I am focused on healing and moving forward with my life,” Ms Wickens said.
“This has only been made achievable by the love and support of my family and friends.”
She thanked everyone involved in her recovery and the court process including the prosecutors, police and ambulance officers and blood donors.
Ms Wickens said she owed her life to the surgeons at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
“My heartfelt thanks goes out to all involved,” she said.
Freeman, who will be eligible for parole in May 2023, waved towards the public gallery as he was led to the cells.