Jail for stabbing attack

A MACKAY man, who snapped and stabbed his childhood pal seven times for no apparent reason, has been jailed for seven years.

A MACKAY man, who snapped and stabbed his childhood pal seven times for no apparent reason, has been jailed for seven years.

The woman, who fought-off Scott James Macpherson that night, said afterwards she feared she would die in the terrifying attack that took place while the pair were having drinks together.

Desperately trying to hold him down to fend off the attack, she received stab wounds to her shoulder, back and head before fleeing to a bathroom and locking herself inside. Her loud screams attracted neighbours.

Judge Stuart Durward SC in the District Court sentenced Macpherson, 32, for the offence of performing a malicious act with intent on September 6, 2013.

The court received "very thorough" medical and psychological reports on the offender (he has an extensive criminal history of violence) that Judge Durward gave strong weight to.

Noting the time already spent in custody, he ordered that Macpherson be eligible for supervised parole on May 30, 2016.

"For the first time in your life you are getting some insight into your offending behaviour. That it is alcohol that drives you to do that and that you need treatment for anger management, depression and drug therapy," Judge Durward said.

He directed that Macpherson receive ongoing psychiatric and psychological assessments while in jail. He is to take part in substance abuse programs and anger management, and assessments are to be done on whether he suffers a depressive illness. His apparent cognitive deficits were also noted.

Judge Durward said the offender was drinking heavily that night when "you lost control of your senses and for reasons that are inexplicable, took a knife and attacked her".

He said Macpherson's lengthy history of violence meant a jail term was the only reasonable outcome.

Judge Durward said the offender also said he did not know why he attacked his childhood friend.

Originally published as Jail for stabbing attack