Jodie Louise Gough in court for wounding, going armed so as to cause fear

After coming across her former partner in public, a Fraser Coast woman chased and ‘slashed’ at him with a knife before committing another shocking act. *Warning, distressing content.

After stabbing her ex-partner in public, a Fraser Coast woman turned the knife on herself.

Jodie Louise Gough, 30, pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay District Court on Friday to wounding and going armed so as to cause fear.

Crown prosecutor Elise Sargent told the court on October 13, 2020, Gough was in Urangan when she came across her 38-year-old former partner.

The court heard Gough was 28 at the time.

Ms Sargent said Gough then started to follow her former partner, and eventually approached him and said “keep walking, this is how it ends today”.

The court heard a witness saw Gough try to kick her ex-partner in the face, but he pushed her away.

Gough then lunged at him with a knife and stabbed him in the left shoulder, Ms Sargent said.

He called for help and for nearby bystanders to call police.

Jodie Louise Gough, 30, pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay District Court on Friday, September 9, to wounding and going armed so as to cause fear.

Ms Sargent said Gough then started to chase her ex-partner, telling him how he “ruined her life”.

Bystanders tried to calm her down, but it did not work.

The court heard Gough’s ex-partner tried to distract her, but she started slashing the knife at him, causing him to jump back.

Ms Sargent said Gough then threatened to harm herself to which her ex-partner replied “Well f------ do it then”.

Gough sliced at her throat and stabbed herself in the torso before collapsing to the ground, Ms Sargent said.

When police arrived, Gough told the officers that her ex-partner had “ruined her life”.

Both Gough and her former partner were taken to hospital.

Ms Sargent told the court the wound to the victim’s shoulder was 7cm-8cm wide, but did not reach the joint.

Gough was released from hospital eight days later and arrested.

She was then released on bail on October 22, 2020.

The Hervey Bay District Court heard that Gough stabbed her ex-partner, causing a wound that was 7cm-8cm wide.

Defence barrister Ed Whitton told the court that moments before Gough slit her throat that day, she said her ex-partner had “ruined her life” and given her drugs.

Mr Whitton said his client had been trying to refrain from using drugs at the time.

But, Mr Whitton said Gough had “succumbed to the desire” to take amphetamines - drugs her former partner had supplied and injected her with on numerous occasions in the past.

He said Gough’s former partner had injected her with drugs the day before the offending, which his client suspected was either heroin or another type of drug, and not amphetamines.

Mr Whitton told the court Gough became “incredibly paranoid and angry” that her ex-partner had deliberately given her another type of drug.

When she left the house on the day of the offending, Mr Whitton said his client intended to take her own life, and not harm her ex-partner.

But, he said Gough then saw her former partner and turned her anger towards him.

Mr Whitton highlighted his client had a prejudicial upbringing, and had been living in residential rehabilitation for some time.

The court heard Gough had been studying aged care and had a criminal history.

Judge Tony Moynihan QC told the court the offending was serious, and highlighted the relationship between Gough and her former partner was “marred by physical, emotional and substance abuse”.

Judge Moynihan noted Gough had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and an amphetamine use disorder which was now in remission.

“You have made substantial, self-motivated and constructive efforts at rehabilitation...” Judge Moynihan said.

Judge Moynihan said that Gough had “expressed remorse” for her actions and was no longer using drugs.

Gough was given a head sentence of two-and-a-half years jail.

Her parole release date was fixed at September 9, 2022.

Convictions were recorded.

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