Phillip James Green sentenced in court for armed robbery and wounding

A man with a long-term drug addiction stabbed another man in the back with a knife after robbing a woman of her wallet and threatening to stab her. Here’s what happened to him in court.

Phillip James Green, 48, appeared in Rockhampton District Court on October 27, 2022.

A man with a long-term drug addiction stabbed another man in the back with a knife after robbing a woman he knew of her wallet and threatening to stab her.

Phillip James Green, 48, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on October 27 to one count each of armed robbery and wounding.

Crown prosecutor Matthew Sutton said a woman known to Green had previously lent him $250 and that he called her about 3.20am on January 1 saying he had money to pay her back and they agreed to meet at the Fitzroy Bridge.

Mr Sutton said Green and the woman, who took a male associate with her, met near the Rockhampton Ambulance Station on Fitzroy Street.

He said Green gave the woman $70 and told her he didn’t have anymore money and that she berated him for that.

He said the woman took out her wallet to put the money away and Green grabbed it.

“There was a scuffle, causing both of them to fall,” he said.

“The defendant successfully took the wallet and wielded a knife, which he pointed at her face.

“He threatened to stab her.”

He said the woman called for the help of her associate, who came to her assistance, and that he and Green started to punch each other.

“That tussle lasted for about 10 minutes,” he said.

He said at some stage during the altercation, Green stabbed the man in the back with the knife and ran away after there was some discussion about the police arriving.

The man suffered a 6cm-long stab wound across his lower back.

Green was apprehended later that day and had been in custody since.

Mr Sutton said there was a level of premeditation to the robbery, due to the fact Green took a knife with him, and that the offences were committed while he was on probation.

“The defendant is lucky the victim’s injuries aren’t life threatening,” he said.

Defence barrister Maree Willey said her client had a long-term drug addiction and was using morphine tablets at the time of committing the offences.

Ms Willey said there was a level of planning involved, however, argued that it was not a sophisticated armed robbery.

“My client did not attempt to conceal his identification,” she said.

“He and the victim were known to each other.

“It was not a particularly sophisticated armed robbery.”

She said the male victim wasn’t immediately stabbed with the knife by her client.

“It seems that fight has gone for about 10 minutes before the knife was actually used,” she said.

Green was sentenced to 4.5 years prison, with 238 days pre-sentence custody declared and parole eligibility set for July 4, 2023.