Karenna Leanne Morley slashes partners wrist over ‘rub and tug’ accusation

A woman accused her husband of going to a massage parlour for a “rub and tug” before slashing his wrist with a kitchen knife as they lay in bed together, a court heard.

Karenna Leanne Morley is charge with wounding over allegedly slashing her former partners arm as he slept.

A Bucasia woman has slashed her partner’s wrist in bed after accusing him of cheating on her by going into a massage parlour for a “rub and tug”.

Karenna Leanne Morley pleaded guilty to wounding her former husband on December 11, 2021, while he slept at his house.

Prosecuting officer Miranda Hickey said the two had argued about the alleged brothel visit before he joined Morley in bed and cuddled up to her.

“Not even a few minutes later, (he) felt a sharp sudden pain to his left wrist,” Ms Hickey said.

“He immediately retracted his left arm from under the defendant’s head (and) felt blood spurting from his arm.

“(Earlier that evening,) she specifically wanted to know why (he) had been at a particular street in North Mackay.

“She accused (him) of having attended a massage parlour on that street for what she described at a ‘rub and tug’.

“The crown alleges she then threatened (him) that he would have to watch himself and sleep with one eye open.”

Ms Hickey said Morley had denied making that threat, with the exact words said on that night unknown.

Judge Michael Byrne KC said “regardless of what was said, there was tension (sufficient) for her to take a knife to bed or it was already there”.

The court heard the weapon was a 15cm black-handed kitchen knife which Ms Hickey said police found “wet as if just washed” when they arrived and arrested Morley.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan said his 49-year-old client was a “good woman and good mother” who had suffered a domestically violent marriage with the complainant.

“Her criminal history reveals her behaviour on this day was out of character,” Mr McLennan said.

“She was deeply sorry and ashamed for letting her family down when she went to prison for four months, including over Christmas in 2021.

“Your Honour could find that Ms Morley has been the victim of domestic violence in this relationship (including) caning (as well as) threats to suicide (in texts from the complainant here).”

Mr McLennan said the “main thrust” of his argument was that Morley should not return to jail after languishing in pre-sentence custody for 114 days after her arrest.

The court heard all three of her adult children wanted to be in court to support her but had been encouraged by Morley to return to work, and that she had two younger children still under her care.

Judge Byrne said there were “some very serious features” to the wounding, but considered Mr McLennan’s assertion Morley was someone “who has done a silly, if not bad thing”.

“Your attempts to cover up the scene were, with respect, not only futile but juvenile … cleaning the knife (shows) you were probably panicking more than anything,” Judge Byrne said.

She was sentenced to two years jail suspended immediately for two-and-a-half years.

Morley wiped away her tears in the dock upon learning she would not be headed back to jail.