Dinner row attack brings jail term

• Author: Tara Shaskey Open Justice multimedia journalist, Taranaki
• Published date: 25 January 2023
• Publication title: Stratford Press

Amy Leeann Johnson became so enraged with the victim that she sank the knife into his head and neck area, while also stabbing his hands as he tried to block the blade

Johnson, 34, then legged it from the Taranaki address with the knife still in hand, the New Plymouth District Court heard on Wednesday last week.

The victim attempted to follow her but quickly returned home when he realised he was bleeding profusely and needed to phone an ambulance. In total, the man suffered 14 stab wounds, one of which severed an artery in the back of his neck and caused significant blood loss.

The September 18 incident was preceded by Johnson and the victim, who had been drinking alcohol together that day, arguing over who would cook dinner.

In the thick of the confrontation, she spotted a kitchen knife nearby, grabbed the weapon and launched her attack. She was located by police about an hour later and told officers she had been “in a rage and was just psychotic”. In court, Johnson appeared for sentence on an admitted charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Through his victim impact statement, the victim, who said he was recovering “fine” from the incident”, expressed his support for Johnson.

He believed she needed help with her admitted issues with alcohol and said sending her to jail would only make matters worse for her.

Crown prosecutor Holly Bullock submitted a starting point of five years’ imprisonment would be appropriate, identifying the aggravating factors as the level of violence, the serious injury, Johnson’s use of a weapon and that she was serving a sentence at the time of the attack.

Bullock said there was no premeditation involved in the offending and rather Johnson had acted on impulse.

Defence lawyer Nathan Bourke echoed that submission, stating his client admitted “she snapped”.

At the time, Johnson...