Kevin Willoughby, 71, pleads guilty to Woy Woy stabbing

An elderly man who pleaded guilty to a domestic-violence related stabbing told police the victim walked into his fishing knife.

A 71-year-old man from Woy Woy has pleaded guilty to stabbing a man in “close proximity’ to his heart”, telling police the victim walked into his knife.

Kevin Willoughby, who represented himself, entered the plea to one charge of reckless wounding (domestic violence related) at Gosford Local Court before Magistrate Scott Nash on Tuesday.

The incident happened on September 12 on Railway Street between 1pm-1.45pm, shocking nearby residents.

A set of agreed facts tendered to the court stated that Mr Willoughby, a pensioner, did not have a history of violence and had been in a relationship for 38 years.

The stabbing happened on Railway Street in Woy Woy in September 2021.

Generic photo of a fishing knife.

The victim, aged 24, had been living with the couple for a month before the attack.

The facts state that on September 12 Mr Willoughby, who had been out for a walk to the shops, returned home where the victim was lying on the couch watching television.

An argument broke out between Mr Willoughby, his partner and the victim.

“The accused was angry and made his way to the bedroom and removed a knife from his bedside drawers,” the facts stated.

“The victim was standing at the doorway to the bedroom and continued to argue with the accused.”

The facts went on to state that a fight broke out where the victim was wounded with the knife “entering the left side of his abdomen in close proximity of his heart”.

Kevin Willoughby pleaded guilty to reckless wounding (domestic violence related) at Gosford Local Court. Picture: Sue Graham

The victim managed to walk outside to grab a chair and used it to knock Mr Willoughby, who was still holding the knife, to the ground.

He attempted to grab the knife and received deep cuts to his fingers.

When the victim secured the knife, he left the home and handed it to a neighbour who helped him with his injuries.

Police and ambulance arrived, taking the victim to Royal North Shore Hospital and Mr Willoughby was treated for a head injury before being arrested.

The facts stated that during a police interview, Mr Willoughby told police he had an argument with the victim and grabbed his fishing knife from his bedside drawers. However he said the victim received the wound after hitting him with the chair.

“The accused said the victim walked into him resulting in the knife wound in his chest,” the facts stated.

Mr Willoughby also told police he had trouble recalling events. He will be sentenced on December 14.