An Illawarra criminal was high on anxiety pills, bourbon and crystal meth when he bashed and stabbed his mate in a violent attack sparked by a dropped screw.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jason Emmerich had been on a self-described "two month bender" after splitting with his partner when he attacked his friend of two years with a carburettor from a motorbike and a screwdriver on the evening of February 18 last year.
Court documents said the victim had been living with Emmerich for a week when the pair started working on a motorbike together that afternoon, however Emmerich became enraged when the victim lost one of the screws and started beating him in the head with the carburettor.
He then picked up a screwdriver and stabbed the man before dragging him into bathroom and kicking him as he lay on the floor.
Emmerich told the victim to clean himself up and left the room, prompting the victim to climb out the bathroom window and run to a neighbouring property for help.
He was taken to hospital where it was discovered he had a fractures to his nose and eye socket, as well as large gashes on the top of his head.
The man told investigating officers "I thought I was going to die, I thought he was going to kill me".
Meanwhile, Emmerich claimed the victim had lashed out at him first and he'd only hit him once in retaliation.
When detectives showed him graphic photos of the man's injuries, Emmerich claimed the wounds had been self-inflicted.
Emmerich pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He admitted he'd downed up to 16 anti-anxiety tablets, drunk 10-12 Wild Turkeys and ingested the drug ice before the attack occurred, telling a psychiatrist "I wasn't with it".
Emmerich's lawyers said their client had had a disadvantaged upbringing punctuated by neglect, abuse, substance addiction and the death of his father when he was 12 years old.
They said Emmerich had a history of committing violent crimes but had managed to stay out of trouble for seven years while in a relationship with his ex-partner.
That relationship ended in late 2017 when Emmerich discovered his girlfriend was having an affair, sending him into a downward spiral.
However, they said Emmerich was remorseful for what he'd done and had told the psychiatrist "I'm very disappointed in myself, I wish I could take it back. It's not right, I wish I could say sorry, it should never have happened".
Judge Chris O'Brien sentenced Emmerich to five years' jail, with a non-parole period of three years.
Sign up to our newsletters
