“All that we want at this time is for our mother to overcome her injuries, and we pray and hope that she gets better soon. She is a strong woman and we know she will be using all her strength to get better.”
Grandmother Paulette Mounford nearly died from her injuries.Credit: Facebook
Sullivan, who barricaded himself in the couples’ home after the incident, was later charged with attempted murder.
Mountford wrote a victim impact statement to the court ahead of her former partner’s sentencing, saying that while some friends and family were shocked by what Sullivan had done, he only showed one side of his personality.
“No one thought he was capable of such a horrendous act,” she said.
“What man in his right mind would stab someone?”
Mountfold told the court her life had been turned upside down since Sullivan tried to murder her, describing how she used to be social and heavily involved in her community, but had been in constant pain since the stabbing and struggled to leave the house and interact with people.
Justice Gary Cobby told Sullivan there was no reason to think Mountford would ever recover from her injuries.
“Your attack was persistent and remorseless,” he said.
“Took her phone to prevent her calling for help – as she went to get the phone you stabbed her … you did everything you could to kill your victim. You made no attempt to get help for the victim.”
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Sullivan, whom the court heard was at the lower end of cognitive functioning, had made full admissions about what he had done immediately after the assault to neighbours and police.
Cobby sentenced him to 10 years in jail, backdated to June last year when he was first arrested. He will be eligible for parole after eight years.
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