Ben Feltl, Kayley Ketley plead guilty to Rosemeadow housemate stabbing

A man was held down and stabbed at a Rosemeadow home after he was accused of stealing his housemate’s groceries and Christmas shopping.

Kayley Ketley.

A housemate argument that turned violent left a man in hospital for two months after he was held down and stabbed at a southwest Sydney home.

Kayley Ketley, 26, and Ben Feltl, 32, fronted Campbelltown District Court on Wednesday for sentencing after a knife was pulled out during a Boxing Day dispute.

Ketley pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a person and taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, while Feltl pleaded guilty to reckless grievous bodily harm in company. Both remain in custody on remand.

According to court documents, the victim Stuart Parki had moved into a rental property on Desdemona St, Rosemeadow where Feltl was living.

About 1am on December 26, 2020 Parki arrived at the home and went into his room and a few minutes later, Feltl, Ketley and an unknown woman arrived.

Kayley Ketley.

There was a verbal argument with the victim accused of stealing their $300 worth of food and Christmas shopping.

Parki denied this and swore at them. Feltl then pushed him onto the bed and got on top of him before Ketley stabbed him in the left leg with a knife.

Feltl tried to calm Ketley down and told her to stop, while Parki wrapped his leg in a blanket to stop the bleeding and ran out onto the street to get help.

Ketley left the house, got into the victim’s ute and drove away.

Parki was taken to Liverpool Hospital and treated for a laceration with deep nerve injury. He required two surgeries and skin grafts during his two-month stay in hospital.

A doctor said at the time that he would likely have a foot drop for life and would need a split or prosthesis.

Kayley Ketley.

Feltl gave evidence at court and acknowledged the physical and mental impact the incident had on the victim.

“I feel very remorseful for what happened to him,” he said. “He’s probably going to be scarred for life, it’s a horrible thing what happened to him.’

Feltl testified that he had been drug-free for 12 months since entering custody, and that he was doing “heaps better”.

He said he was willing to do whatever it takes and would participate in a treatment plan.

“I would like to go back to my trade … cabinet making,” Feltl told the court.

“I’ve been doing it all my life and I know what I’m doing … I want to get back to my kids … I need to be fit and healthy out of jail and sober for them.”

A representative for the Director of Public Prosecutions cross-examined Feltl and pointed out he had been on conditional liberty when he was under the influence of drugs and committed the offence.

He asked Feltl what “comfort” the court could have that he would abide by his supervision and not commit further offences.

“I done jail this time, I have been in jail 12 months,” Feltl responded. “I am sober. Last time I wasn't.”

A defence barrister told the court that there was no evidence Feltl knew a knife would be produced before the incident, but allowed he held the victim down.

“He did come to his senses and tried to stop what was happening with the knife,” the barrister said.

“He entered his plea in the Local Court and he’s done everything he can … allowed that he had background issues with drug and alcohol issues with abuse.”

The DPP representative asked the judge to take into account the serious nature of the offence, and the impact on the victim.

“The offence was committed in the home of the victim, and the offence was committed while the offender was on conditional liberty,” he said.

Judge Jennifer English adjourned the sentencing until December 8.

Ketley was due to be sentenced for the stabbing and an unrelated matter after she pleaded guilty to taking and driving a conveyance without consent of the owner, take/detain in company, reckless wounding and a backup charge of possessing a prohibited drug.

She waved to two supporters in the back of the Campbelltown District Court as she was led up from the cells into the dock.

Ketley’s solicitor told the court that they were still waiting on a psychiatric report.

Judge English adjourned both of Ketley’s matters to December 8 for sentencing.