Telverne Rodney Williams sentenced over machete attack in Albury

A man has hacked into another man a number of times, damaging tendons in his arm, during a drunken blow up over sleeping with his son’s girlfriend.

An Albury man has been sentenced after he attacked another man with a machete during a drunken argument about sleeping with his son’s girlfriend.
Telverne Rodney Williams, 53, appeared before Albury District Court on Monday after he was earlier found guilty of one count of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of reckless wounding.

The court heard about 8pm on February 23 a group of men were socialising at a unit on Olive St, Albury, when Williams and another man began arguing.

Williams began striking the 45-year-old victim “a number of times” with the machete, breaking his arm.

Williams pleaded not guilty before a jury at Albury District Court on the July 26, and was found guilty by the jury on July 30.

Telverne Rodney Williams has been sentenced after attacking a man with a machete. Picture: Simon Dallinger

The jury found the victim was struck with a machete with the intention of causing grievous bodily harm, and Williams was not acting in self defence at the time.

The court heard the victim was invited to Williams’s Olive St home with a woman for drinks.
At some point the victim and the offender left to discuss William’s son and it was alleged Williams was caught having sex with the victim’s son’s girlfriend, the court heard.
Williams allegedly said to the victim to “leave the blonde sl*t” he arrived with at the apartment, when the victim said he “had never been stood over in his life, let alone for a crack wh**e, you can have her.”
Both men walked outside and when Williams hit the other man from behind across the shoulder.

The victim denied slapping Williams before he was hit by the machete,.

Court documents reveal Albury Base Hospital general surgeon, Heinrich Schwalb, told the court the victim received multiple lacerations.

“There were two deep lacerations with tendons involved, no bone was protruding or showing but there is possible tendon and never damage,” Mr Schwalb said in a report.

Williams’s defence lawyer said the court should find special circumstances given Williams’s ‘troubled’ upbringing.

“This matter falls below mid-range of objective seriousness due to the question of the intent and the magnitude of the injuries,” Mr Jeffrey said.

“It is a very serious offence but in terms of the offending it is below mid-range.”

Albury District Court Judge Sean Grant said a period of supervision was recommended to support Williams’s engagement in treatment and rehabilitation.

“I am satisfied that Mr Williams has had few available resources to guide his behaviour and moral culpability,” Judge Grant said.

“I accept Mr Williams exhibited severe symptoms of depression and anxiety and I do find special circumstances in this case.”

Williams received a sentence of imprisonment for six years, which was backdated to July 28, he will be eligible for release on July 27, 2028.

He received a non-parole period of three years and seven months and will be eligible for parole on February 27, 2025.