Casper Connor Benson pleads guilty to recklessly causing injury in New Year knife attack

A magistrate has warned a man who attacked two strangers in Newtown on New Year's Eve with a pair of carving knives he was lucky he didn’t kill anybody.

Casper Connor Benson leaving the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A man who attacked two strangers in Newtown on New Year's Eve with a pair of carving knives has been warned he was lucky he didn’t kill anybody.

Casper Connor Benson, 27, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday, and pleaded guilty to two counts of recklessly causing injury, stemming from the double-stabbing.

The court heard that Benson had become agitated after drinking vodka and Hard Solos throughout the afternoon on December 31, 2023, and was talking about “traumas in his life”.

His parents went to the unit he shared with his partner, and Benson later left the address carrying two carving knives.

An argument ensued, with Benson’s father following him onto the street, pleading for him to drop the knives.

At around 9.50pm, two men saw the argument and yelled to ask if police should be called.

A shirtless Benson approached the men, stabbing one man in the upper left side of his chest, and lashing out at the other.

The first man was in hospital for six days, with a broken rib and collapsed lung, while the second man received a small slash wound to his stomach.

He was not hospitalised.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie said it just “seems to be luck” that Benson did not kill someone.

“You’ve managed to get through his sternum,” Mr Guthrie said of one of the victims.

“There you are, intoxicated, out of control, refusing to calm down or listen to your father … it’s terrifying,”

Benson’s lawyer, Jacob Mildren, told the court his client had a history of anxiety and depression and alcohol had become Benson’s “maladaptive” way of dealing with his issues.

The court heard Benson had woken in hospital under police guard, with no recollection as to how he got there.

When police put to him what he had done in his police interview, Benson reacted by “weeping”, Mr Mildren said.

After being charged and bailed, Benson immediately sought assistance for his mental health problems and drinking, Mr Mildren said, as early as January 2.

He also moved back in with his parents in Lara for extra support and was extremely remorseful, the court heard.

Benson’s parents supported him in court, and the court heard his partner was also supportive.

The court heard Benson had no priors and Mr Mildren asked Mr Guthrie to consider a community corrections order (CCO) as opposed to a prison sentence.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie-Ann Moroney said it was clear the incident has had “the most significant effect” on the victims, but she said she would support a CCO.

A Corrections Victoria assessment found Benson had a low risk of reoffending.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie said the incident “unquestionably” had an impact on the victim, and said he “agonised” over the sentence.

“Not only did you stab (victim one), you took a slice out of victim number two,” Mr Guthrie told Benson.

Benson was convicted, fined $2000 plus costs and sentenced to a two-year CCO.

If not for his early guilty plea, Mr Guthrie said he would have been facing lengthy jail time.

Originally published as Casper Connor Benson pleads guilty to recklessly causing injury in New Year knife attack