John Langbien sentenced after stabbing neighbour Mark Neal
A “proud family man” from Batemans Bay stabbed his neighbour after wrestling outside their units, leaving him fighting for his life. GRAPHIC WARNING.
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A Batemans Bay man, described as a “proud family man”, has been sentenced to two years in prison after a knife attack on his neighbour last year left his victim with his intestines hanging out of his stomach.
John Charles Langbein, 52, had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm after attacking his neighbour Mark Neal in September last year.
Langbein appeared in Bega District Court on October 22 via audio video link, where the court was told his victim, who has an intellectual disability, was so badly injured in the September 12, 2019, attack he was left with his intestines hanging from his stomach before being flown to Canberra Hospital and placed in intensive care.
Judge Andrew Haesler said the attack, which stemmed from an argument between Langbein and his son at their home in the Nelligen area, could have killed the victim.
The court heard the pair lived in the same unit complex and were close friends at the time of the attack.
The bad blood began after Neal stepped in to help Langbein’s son during an argument at his son’s house before Langbein turned on him.
After the argument at Langbein’s son’s home, Neal left and spent the night at his mother’s house before being met with a “barrage of abuse” from Langbein.
Neal also received numerous abusive text messages and a call on the morning of the attack from Langbein saying he wanted to “sort this s*** out”, the court heard.
At 7pm as Neal returned to his unit, Langbein ran towards him out the front of the apartment complex where pair wrestled and grabbed each other by the throat, the court heard.
Langbein then pulled a knife from his back pocket before stabbing Neal twice in the abdomen, piercing his bowel.
Neal was left holding his intestines in his hands, before yelling “my guts are coming out”, the court heard.
The court heard Langbein had attempted to help his victim after the attack, however Neal was able to drive himself to Batemans Bay Hospital.
During sentencing, Judge Haesler said Neal had “needlessly suffered”.
Judge Haesler said Langbein had faced a five-year sentence without his early plea of guilty.
“He (Langbein) now appreciates the harm he caused his friend,” Judge Haesler said during sentencing.
Judge Haesler sentenced Langbein to a non-parole period of nine months, backdated to the day of the offence.
Langbein will be paroled on September 11 next year.