Seven years jail for stabbing

ANDREW Grant Folwell’s family will continue to support him during his term of imprisonment for stabbing his ex-girlfriend’s alleged drug dealer.

ANDREW Grant Folwell's family will continue to support him during his term of imprisonment for stabbing his ex-girlfriend's alleged drug dealer repeatedly in the head and neck.

The family was too upset to speak after he was sentenced to seven years with a parole eligibility date set after serving three. Folwell's solicitor Sheena Hayes, of Morton Lawyers, said they knew from the outset he would be jailed, but his penalty was still a shock.

Folwell was heavily supported during the two-day trial with more than a dozen family and friends sitting in the gallery behind him.

The 24-year-old pleaded not guilty to attempting to kill Simon Wills on July 6 last year in a bedroom of his Slade Point home.

In a "rush of anger", Folwell stabbed Wills in the head and neck at least five times causing life threatening injuries. Wills required a blood transfusion before surgery, the Supreme Court in Mackay heard.

The jury found him guilty of an alternative charge of doing a malicious act with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Crown prosecutor Josh Phillips said it was a "surprise attack" with a "vigilante-type flavour".

"What it demonstrated is a willingness to effectively take the law into his own hands," he said.

Mr Phillips submitted he should be jailed for eight years with a serious violent offender declaration made, but defence barrister Craig Chowdhury said that was not appropriate.

He said there was provocation in this case because "there can be no doubt that Wills was there to supply drugs". While it was a surprise attack, there was no evidence of pre-meditation.

Mr Chowdhury said six years was appropriate.

Justice Duncan McMeekin said Folwell's anger was "not only explicable but justified" but he went "far too far".

"In my view there's not the slightest chance you're ever likely to reoffend in a similar way," Justice McMeekin said.

Originally published as Seven years jail for stabbing