Townsville man sentenced for ‘violent and senseless’ killing

When emergency services arrived at an Aitkenvale home they found a disabled man lifeless in his bed lying in a pool of blood.

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A JUDGE has described the unlawful killing of a Townsville man as “violent and senseless” after a “trivial” dispute over a cask of wine turned fatal.

On June 29, 2018, Raynard Kenneth Sambo, 33, was more than seven times the legal driving limit when he stabbed Stephen Allan Williams, a disabled man, in his bed in his Aitkenvale home.

When emergency services arrived at the apartment, they found Mr Williams, 68, lying lifeless in his bed in a pool of blood with a 20.7cm long “bloodstained” knife in a pool of blood on the floor beside him.

Sambo pleaded guilty to one charge of manslaughter in the Townsville Supreme Court on Friday.

Crown Prosecutor Nigel Rees said Sambo and his ex-partner Clara Fullerton (now deceased) met in Dean Park in Townsville City that day and drank Moselle wine out of large water bottles.

A crime scene on Nathan St in Aitkenvale, Townsville. June 29, 2018.

The court heard Sambo and Fullerton decided to visit Sambo’s mother, Avis Sambo, at her Nathan Street apartment in Aitkenvale and caught the bus from the Old Railway Station to Stockland Shopping Centre at 4.30pm.

When Sambo and Fullerton arrived at the unit, Avis was not home, but Mr Williams, who was known to Sambo, was in a neighbouring unit and invited the pair in for a drink.

Mr Rees said Sambo and Mr Williams got into an argument after the deceased offered the pair a half full cask of wine rather than a full one.

Mr Rees said the neighbour heard a scuffle and heard Fullerton yell “just settle down, just stop it”.

Around 7.15pm, the neighbour heard Mr Williams yell “that’s my f-----g grog, leave it alone”.

The court heard Fullerton left the unit, but when she returned she saw Sambo standing at Mr William’s bedside holding a knife he had taken from a kitchen bench.

Sambo said, “this fella’s talking smart to me”, and stabbed Mr Williams in the chest.

Mr Rees said the pair left Mr Williams bleeding without offering assistance or making any attempt to render first aid.

He said they left the unit and walked to the bus stop across the road.

When police located Sambo and Fullerton sitting at the bus stop, he denied any part in what had just occurred, despite Mr William’s blood being on his hands, shirt, shorts and foot.

When asked where the blood was from, Sambo said “I was just trying to help”.

Sambo was arrested and later charged and that night provided a sample of breath and blew 0.379%, seven times the legal limit.

“This was three hours after the killing,” Mr Rees said.

Killing at units at 220 Nathan Street, Aitkenvale. Picture Evan Morgan

Sambo’s barrister Edward Bassett said his client was born in Mount Isa and was an “alcoholic” with a “sad background”.

In sentencing, Justice David North said there was a “sad recurring theme” in Sambo’s offending.

He said it was a “repetition of conduct” noting Sambo had been previously convicted of assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed in company and unlawful wounding.

“There was no occasion at all for you to attack him, yet alone stab him with a knife,” Justice North said.

Sambo was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, declaring it as a serious violent offence.

Pre-sentence custody of 1057 days was declared as time served.

Originally published as Townsville man sentenced for ‘violent and senseless’ killing