Ammoniah Turner released after stabbing stranger in the back, leaving him paraplegic

A drunken teenage footy player left a complete stranger wheelchair-bound after he viciously stabbed him in the back multiple times and fled as he bled.

A talented footballer violently stabbed a stranger in the back multiple times – leaving him paraplegic – because he refused him money.

Ammoniah Turner, 20, was released from custody in the Adelaide District Court last month after serving just under 18 months in custody, following his “nasty and vicious” attack that changed a man’s life forever.

The court heard Turner was drunk and wandering the streets of the Adelaide CBD on January 7 last year.

Ammoniah Turner was sentenced in the Adelaide District Court for causing serious harm with intent to cause serious harm. Photo: Facebook

“You came across the victim who was also drunk, you asked him for money but he refused,” Judge Liesl Chapman said during sentencing.

The court heard Turner, who was aged 19 at the time, and the victim then got into a fight.

“The fight stopped when the victim stumbled and partially fell near some stairs,” Judge Chapman said.

“You then removed a knife from near your ankle, approached the victim, reached around him and stabbed him numerous times in his back.

“The victim was left in pain and bleeding profusely, he followed you but did not make it very far.”

The court heard Turner was arrested by police shortly after and the victim was taken to hospital.

“The injuries you inflicted caused him to lose a lot of blood and suffer significant internal bleeding around his lungs,” Judge Chapman said.

“He suffered what is essentially a tissue death to his spine which caused a severe spinal injury and has resulted in paraplegia from the hips down.”

Turner had been in custody since his arrest.

The court heard the victim, who cannot walk or stand and requires a wheelchair, is no longer able to play with his children or do the activities he once loved.

“He has now lost all that, you have taken all that away from him,” Judge Chapman said.

“He is 48 and you have changed his life forever.

“Even though you cannot now remember the details of what you did it was a very nasty and vicious act.”

Turner, of Salisbury, had previously pleaded guilty to causing serious harm with intent to cause serious harm.

The court heard Turner, who is a talented footballer, became a father to a son while he was in custody.

“You have said you are sorry for what you have done, you know that the grog was the problem,” Judge Chapman said.

“As I have said, his injuries are catastrophic, alcohol is no excuse and you have to answer for the wrongs that you do when you are drunk.”

Judge Chapman sentenced Turner to five years and eight months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and 11 months.

The remainder of the sentence was suspended on a three-year good behaviour bond, with a condition for Turner not to drink alcohol.

“I think it is now time for you to go back to that community and prove to yourself, your son, your family and the elders and everyone else in that community that you can be a good person and ultimately, even a leader,” Judge Chapman said.