New Norfolk woman given ‘lenient’ jail sentence over attempted murder of her father

A 74-year-old man whose daughter tried to murder him while in the grips of psychosis says he is heartbroken – now living with a bullet near his spine and a “significant” facial disfigurement.

New Norfolk. Picture: Patrick Gee

A NEW Norfolk woman who attempted to murder her father by shooting him in the face, before repeatedly stabbing him as he lay wounded on the kitchen floor, has been jailed.

Tamara Nicole Adams, 48, faced the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Thursday after pleading guilty to the violent crime against her 74-year-old dad in June last year.

Chief Justice Alan Blow said Adams had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1998 and was being treated with Clozapine – a drug of “last resort”.

However, he said her dosage had been reduced at the time of the attempted murder, meaning Adams was only receiving a sub-therapeutic level of treatment.

Chief Justice Blow said the registered firearms owner was experiencing hallucinations at the time, and had developed a delusion that her father would kill her.

At 8.15pm on June 24, Adams drove to her parents’ home in New Norfolk.

“She took with her a rifle that she owned, loaded with two magazines, as well as a kitchen knife,” Chief Justice Blow said.

“She wrapped the knife in a tea towel and placed it in her back pocket.”

Adams walked into her parents’ kitchen, where they were sitting with a friend, and she placed her rifle on the kitchen bench – crouching down so she was looking down the barrel.

She said to her father: “this is the last time you will lord it over me, you bastard”, before shooting him to the face.

Her father – Russell Adams – stumbled onto the floor, with his daughter then stabbing him to the neck, chest and arms

Chief Justice Blow said Mr Adams had a stroke about 14 months prior to the attempted murder, and had been recovering well.

Chief Justice Alan Blow OAM. Picture: SUPPLIED

But as a result of his daughter’s attack, he suffered a large wound to his right cheek, a fractured mandible and multiple neck wounds.

Multiple metal fragments were lodged in his cheek, and his mandible had to be repaired with a bone graft harvested from his right hip.

Mr Adams underwent a tracheotomy to assist his breathing and could not eat during his five weeks in hospital.

The bullet lodged close to his spine and was therefore not removed – and may cause problems in the future.

“His facial disfigurement is significant,” Chief Justice Blow said.

“He is heartbroken about what his daughter did to him. He is sad all the time and becomes upset easily.”

The judge said he would impose a more lenient sentence than usual given Adams committed the crime as a result of her mental illness.

However, he said her psychosis at the time was not to the extent where she could be found not guilty on the ground of insanity.

Adams, who pleaded guilty to attempted murder at an early stage, was jailed for six years, with a non-parole period of two years.

The final two years of her sentence was suspended – and she must comply with the requirements of community mental health services.

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