Sex, drugs and jealousy: why heroin dealer high on his own stash stabbed rival to death

A heroin dealer was motivated by romantic jealousy when he stabbed a rival drug dealer to death while high on his own supply, a court has been told.

A heroin dealer thought he was being cheated on and was motivated by jealousy when he fatally stabbed a rival drug dealer several times while high on his own supply, a court has been told.

Scott Weaver was sentenced on Friday to 24 years and eight months for the murder of 67-year-old Larry White at a unit in North Gosford, NSW in 2019.

In an ironic twist, the court was told Mr Weaver was stabbed with a homemade blade in jail in a suspected revenge attack by another inmate who was involved with Mr White’s daughter.

Scott Weaver was sentenced to 24 years and eight months for the 2019 murder of 67-year-old Larry White. Picture: Facebook

NCA NewsWire is not suggesting Mr White’s daughter was complicit in the attack.

But Justice Stephen Campbell said on the balance of probabilities, the attack was “motivated by the assailant’s desire to exact retribution for the murder of Mr White”.

“Fortunately for (Mr Weaver), the shiv was not efficient for the purpose and the injuries he received were not serious,” he said.

In sentencing Mr Weaver, Justice Campbell found the 40-year-old was motivated by the jealous belief that his girlfriend, Yolanda Howlett, had a romantic interest in Mr White.

The court was told that both the attacker and victim were heroin dealers who regularly carried knives or kept them readily available for use in the event of a “rip off”.

Mr Weaver confronted his victim on the morning of December 20, 2019 after returning to the unit at 7am following a night out.

Mr Weaver had been using the drug ice and began arguing with Ms Howlett after she took issue with him procuring any heroin for her.

After arguing with Ms Howlett and disarming her of a knife with which she was threatening to harm herself, Mr Weaver moved into the living room to confront Mr White and accused him of sleeping with his girlfriend.

Ms Howlett testified to hearing Mr Weaver say: “So, you want to f**k my missus, do you?”

Mr Weaver claimed he was intending only to assault Mr White with his fists.

But that the argument escalated when the 67-year-old produced his own knife, forcing Mr Weaver to defend himself.

Justice Campbell said this version of events was unlikely, in part due to toxicology showing Mr White was under the influence of heroin at the time of the altercation.

The court heard Mr Weaver was consumed by jealousy over a perceived attraction between his partner Yolanda Howlett (pictured) and Mr White. Picture: Facebook

Mr Weaver was likely “primed for violence” after months of stewing about the perceived attraction between his girlfriend and Mr White.

Justice Campbell said there was no evidence Mr Weaver had premeditated intentions to kill his victim, however, due to his jealousy was, “certainly fully primed to do violence to Mr White should the occasion arise”.

Mr White suffered six separate knife wounds during the stabbing, which evidence showed to be “determined and desperate” the court was told.

Of these, the most significant were a wound to the chest which punctured his lung and a wound to his left leg which severed the femoral artery and likely left him beyond saving without immediate medical attention.

Following the incident, rather than dial triple-0, Mr Weaver and his partner procured more drugs.

During the trial, the court was told Mr Weaver confided in a dealer about his crime.

“I’ve had a really s****y day, if only you knew the day I had,” he was quoted by the witness as saying.

“I‘ve just f***ing stabbed somebody and I think I may have killed them.”

Mr Weaver convinced his partner not to go to the police, which led her to also later being charged with murder.

“Their relationship was abusive, at least emotionally, and she would do whatever was necessary to protect him,” Justice Campbell said.

Her charge was downgraded to being an accessory after the fact after she agreed to cooperate with investigators.

She was sentenced last year to two years and one month in jail with a non-parole period of one year and three months.

Mr Weaver denied knowledge of Mr White’s whereabouts, including to his daughters, and went to efforts to remove forensic evidence from the murder weapon and crime scene.

Police outside the unit where Larry White murdered. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

The court was told Mr White’s daughters had rekindled a positive relationship with him prior to his death and were the first to discover his body at the unit.

When police attempted to arrest Mr Weaver on 28 December, 2019 he initially fled and then struggled with police and was subdued with capsicum spray.

For the crime of resisting arrest, he was sentenced to an additional six months in jail which was served during his initial custody period.
Mr Weaver was sentenced to a non-parole period of 18 years and six months, which was backdated to 2020. He will be eligible for release on September 8, 2038.