A mentally ill Wollongong man who tried to murder his father by slicing his throat in a "planned and premeditated" attack last Christmas Eve has been jailed for nine years.
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Alex Hatzimanolos must spend at least five-and-a-half of those years behind bars under the terms of the sentence imposed by Wollongong District Court judge Andrew Haesler last Thursday.
Judge Haesler found Hatzimanolos presented an ongoing danger to the community both in and out of custody due to his chronic schizophrenia, for which he was currently not receiving any proper treatment.
A set of agreed facts tendered to the court said Hatzimanolos and his father had returned to his father's home after visiting nearby family on the night of December 24 when the older man noticed his son shuffling through a bag as he parked the car.
When Mr Hatzimanolos asked his son was doing, Hatzimanolos replied "nothing".
His father went inside the home to search for a lost set of keys, at which time Hatzimanolis pulled a kitchen knife with a 9cm blade from his bag and followed his father inside.
Hatzimanolos confronted his father in one of the bedrooms, grabbing the older man in a headlock and stabbing him in the throat in a slicing motion.
Mr Hatzimanolos tried to fend off his son, screaming "Alex, Alex!" as Hatzimanolos tried to stab him again.
Hatzimanolis yelled an insult before leaving the property and walking to his own home.
Mr Hatzimanolos tried to dial triple-0 but he was bleeding so badly over the phone that it would not recognise his finger pressure.
Mr Hatzimanolos ended up driving himself 500m up the road to Wollongong Hospital, presenting to the emergency department with a deep, 3cm penetrating wound to his neck.
He underwent emergency surgery and remained at the hospital for five days.
Meanwhile, Hatzimanolos was arrested later that evening.
When interviewed, he admitted he had intended to kill his father that night and had not expected him to survive.
He also admitted having taken drugs and alcohol before the attack.
In court on Thursday, Judge Haesler said there was no question Hatzimanolos had suffered from schizophrenia for most of his adult life and had had regular admissions to psychiatric facilities since 2015.
He found Hatzimanolos's crime was a product of his mental illness and he had not been "fully aware of the consequences of his actions".
Judge Haesler noted Hatzimanolos was still suffering from the condition and still had psychotic symptoms which "have not, so far, ameliorated to any significant extent during his time on remand."
"On the material before me ... he requires aggressive treatment for his underlying mental condition," he said.
With time served, Hatzimanolos will be eligible to be considered for parole in September 2026. His total sentence will expire in 2030.
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