East Nowra Man Sentenced to Three Years for Stabbing Incident
An East Nowra man has been jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to a stabbing attack, with the court highlighting that this was his second offence involving a knife. Wallace Henry Craig, 43, appeared before Nowra District Court on Tuesday, February 24, and received a sentence with a non-parole period of two years.
Details of the Stabbing Attack
The court heard that on May 31, 2024, around 10am, Craig was involved in an argument while being driven by the male victim on Hillcrest Avenue, South Nowra. After being told to exit the car, Craig stabbed the victim with a knife, which passed through his hand and caused two wounds to his chest. Judge Siobhan Herbert described the stabbing as "inherently dangerous", noting that witnesses saw blood spurt from the victim's hand and on his clothing.
Documents tendered to the court revealed that the victim required helicopter transfer to North Shore Hospital for hand surgery and remained hospitalized for several days due to the severity of his injuries.
Arrest and Criminal History
Craig was arrested on the day of the stabbing and has been in custody since. Judge Herbert noted that Craig has multiple entries on his criminal history, including a prior conviction for stabbing another man in 2012. During this incident, he had a knife in the car used for the attack and another in his bumbag when arrested.
The court also heard that Craig was considered too high a risk to be interviewed by police and left a doctor's appointment when discussions about the offence made him irritable and agitated.
Considerations in Sentencing
Judge Herbert took into account Craig's diagnosis of schizophrenia, noting he had stopped taking his medication at the time of the offence. She stated that his substance use impacted his mental illness in both positive and negative ways, and described him as "seriously mentally ill", with his condition likely exacerbated by drug use.
Despite Craig expressing remorse and asking for a chance, Judge Herbert emphasized that the primary consideration was community protection. She factored in his time already spent in custody, mental health issues, and need for supervision and rehabilitation. Craig will be eligible for release in May 2026.
