Adam Jay Azzi sentenced over stabbing death of Lloyd Frederick Kennedy
There have been heated scenes in a Wagga courtroom as a man was sentenced in court following the death of another man, who was stabbed in the heart during an argument over money.
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The family and friends of a man killed in 2016 have yelled obscenities across the courtroom as the man found guilty of his manslaughter was led away.
Adam Jay Azzi, 46, appeared in Wagga Supreme Court today, sentenced to 11 years in jail for the manslaughter of Lloyd Frederick Kennedy in 2016.
Azzi had pleaded not guilty to murder and using an offensive weapon with intent to commit intimidation.
After a 10-day trial in October last year, a jury acquitted Azzi of murder and found him guilty of manslaughter and the weapon charge.
The courtroom was heated during the sentencing, with Mr Kennedy’s furious family and friends yelling obscenities at Azzi as he was led away.
Today, the court heard Mr Kennedy and his friend Nathan Vercoe went to a Lavington house Azzi was staying at to recover some loaned money.
Azzi, of Gundowring, about 42km southeast of Albury, became agitated during their conversation at his door before he went back inside to grab a knife and table leg.
When he went back outside, Mr Kennedy and Mr Vercoe were already leaving.
However, he continued towards them near the road and lunged towards Mr Vercoe, who then tripped.
Mr Kennedy ran to help his friend and that was when he and Azzi ran into each other, resulting in the knife penetrating his heart.
In his remarks today, Justice Michael Walton said Azzi grabbing the knife “ultimately resulted in the deceased’s death”.
He said there was no evidence of provocation and that Azzi “emerged as the aggressor by arming himself”, leading to “momentarily premeditation”.
“The use of a knife was disproportionate to any danger presented,” Justice Walton said.
During a previous hearing, defence barrister Eric Wilson said there was an element of provocation and the fear of “joint danger” led to his client’s “hyper vigilance” and response to arm himself.
Crown prosecutor Paul Kerr dismissed the argument Mr Kennedy and Mr Vercoe were the aggressors.
“The response of Mr Azzi was impulsive, instinctive and panicked. Mr Azzi was the aggressor — he’s the one who was armed,” he said.
Today the court heard that Azzi fabricated a story to a family member that the incident was a home invasion.
Justice Walton said Azzi’s criminal record did not entitle him to any particular leniency and that “it can’t be said he is a person of good character”.
Azzi’s legal representatives also submitted his moral culpability was reduced due to his mental state being hindered from his “longstanding” drug and alcohol use and post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, Justice Walton said there was no evidence his mental processes were affected during the offences.
He also said the psychological report tendered concluded there was only “a strong likelihood of PTSD diagnosis”.
Justice Walton also cited the victim impact statements read to the court in February.
“The effect on each member is different but profound and ongoing,” he said.
He said while the only appropriate sentence was full-time custody, a positive aspect in relation to the prospects of rehabilitation was his “strong family support”.
During the sentencing, Azzi sat with his eyes closed at times.
With a non-parole period of eight years and three months, as well as the jail term being backdated to November 2017, Azzi will be eligible for early release in February 2025.