4 days ago
Man jailed for stabbing stranger in 'brazen act of extreme violence' during Canberra road rage incident
A road rage incident in which a man was stabbed last year has been described as a brazen act of extreme violence, in the ACT Supreme Court today.
Nikorn Phonsaya, 30, pleaded guilty to recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm on the victim during a fight by the side of Flemington road in Mitchell.
The court heard the incident began when Phonsaya was tailgating the victim's car.
When the two cars stopped at traffic lights the victim's partner gestured to him to move on.
The court was told Phonsaya began to yell at the victim to pull over, which he did in a bus bay.
The two men got out of the cars, the victim asking what was wrong as Phonsaya advanced towards him.
Acting Justice Michael Elkaim described Phonsaya as "full of the bravado of an aggressor".
"Tell your b***h to say sorry," Phonsaya said to the victim.
After an angry exchange Phonsaya went to his car and collected some things, before the altercation kicked off.
Phonsaya produced a knife, stabbing the victim, who had to be rushed to hospital where he received emergency treatment.
"There seems no doubt the results could have been fatal, but for the emergency treatment," Acting Justice Elkaim said.
When Phosaya was later examined he had bruising on his face and arms.
"It's clear some of the [victim's] punches hit their mark," Acting Justice Elkaim said.
Acting Justice Elkaim said the victim and his partner have suffered since, with anxiety, hyper-vigilance and PTSD, as well as ongoing health problems after the wound became infected.
During sentencing prosecutors said the motive was trivial, and the attack was "a brazen act of extreme violence".
The court was told Phonsaya has breached 17 good behaviour orders in the past, with prosecutors urging against a community based sentence.
Acting Justice Elkaim said although Phonsaya was now 30, "based on the facts of this case he has not grown up".
He rejected requests for an intensive corrections order to be served in the community, sentencing Phonsaya to 38 months in jail, with a non parole period ending late next year.
