Sam Northen pleads guilty in Gympie court to unlawful wounding

A young man has been given a last warning to clean up his act after cutting a man with a 30cm knife and telling others ‘I will stab you’ at a house party in Gympie.

Sam Northen leaves Gympie District Court after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful wounding in relation to a September 2022 incident at a party.

A Gympie man has been issued his last warning by a judge after threatening to stab guests at a party and cutting a man’s hand with a 30cm long knife.

Sam Northen pleaded guilty in Gympie District Court on Monday to unlawful wounding following the September 2021 incident at a home in the city.

The court heard the 22-year-old and his dog were at the party in the backyard of the house when he got into an argument about 4.30am over claims someone kicked his dog.

He was asked by a woman to leave, and Judge Gary Long said it was a “pity” Northen did not do so at the time.

Instead, the court heard, Northen grabbed her and was then tackled by another guest.

They brawled on the ground and Northen was hit over the head with a beer bottle during the fight.

Gympie District Court Judge Gary Long said it was a “pity” 22-year-old Sam Northen did not leave a party in September 2021 when he was told too, with his choice to stay ultimately leading to an appearance at court.

He was eventually put in a headlock but broke free and ran into the house.

Once inside he opened a kitchen drawer, pulled out a 30cm-long kitchen knife, and began swinging it towards one of the women at the party.

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Another man ran into the house carrying a large stick to confront Northen, the court heard, while others blocked his path back to the kitchen and continued trying to force him out.

He kept swinging the knife towards the group screaming “I will stab you”, at one point stabbing it into the hallway wall.

When one of the men moved forward to push him out Northen lunged at his stomach with the knife, missing.

He lunged a second time, with the tip of the blade touching the man’s chest, who responded by grabbing Northen’s arm.

Northen then pulled the knife back, slicing a 10cm long gash in the top of the man’s hand which required seven stitches to close.

The guests were finally able to shove Northen out the front door; he and his dog were found by police at the corner, where Judge Long said he gave them a story “not consistent” with the facts pleaded to in court.

Sam Northen and his dog were at a party in Gympie in September 2021 when he cut a man’s hand with a 30cm long blade following an argument and fight in the backyard of a house.

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Judge Long sentenced Northen to 21 months’ jail, immediately suspended owing to 151 days of pre-sentence custody.

He told Northen he was saved from a harsher term by a letter of recommendation from his employer, Widgee Engineering, which “speaks highly of you”.

“They obviously see … potential when you’re not affected by alcohol,” he said.

Judge Long also left little doubt in Northen’s mind about what would happen if he kept down the same path.

“(The sentence) provides you with an opportunity to do something with your life,” Judge Long said.

“If you don’t take it … you will end up being returned to jail.

“It’s up to you whether you take advantage of this opportunity.”