A 74-year-old man who slashed his partner’s throat in their Perth Hills home, then took her phone as she tried to call for help, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail over the near-fatal attack.<\/p>\n
WARNING: Some readers may find details in this story distressing.<\/p>\n
Christopher John Sullivan attacked his then-60-year-old partner Paulette Mountford in June 2024, causing her to suffer critical injuries.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sullivan appeared in the WA Supreme Court for sentencing. (ABC News: Jack Stevenson)<\/p>\n
As Ms Mountford clutched her neck and tried to call an ambulance, Sullivan took her phone from her and stabbed her twice in the abdomen, the court heard.<\/p>\n
Sullivan and Ms Moutford had argued on their back patio shortly before he attacked her, then went to his room to grab a knife.<\/p>\n
After he’d stabbed Ms Mountford multiple times, Sullivan went inside to wash his hands and the knife, while his partner went to the front yard and called for help.<\/p>\n
‘Close to murder’<\/p>\n
Neighbours assisted her and she was rushed to hospital.<\/p>\n
It wasn’t known if she’d survive the attack, prosecutor Les Dobson said, and it was “only by the grace of God she survived.”<\/p>\n
Mr Dobson said the offence was “as close to a murder as you can get”.<\/p>\n
Sullivan pleaded guilty to attempted murder, and today appeared in the WA Supreme Court for sentencing.<\/p>\n
His lawyer Senaka Senaratne referred to his client’s long-term alcohol use, saying he and the victim had both been drinking that day to the point of intoxication.<\/p>\n
He said his client had co-operated with authorities, pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was remorseful.<\/p>\n
Life changing incident<\/p>\n
Mr Dobson read out a victim impact statement provided by Ms Mountford, who had been in a de facto relationship with Sullivan for more than 13 years.<\/p>\n
Since the attack, she said she had suffered recurring nightmares and found it hard to go out in public.<\/p>\n
Ms Mountford said she may have to move home due to increasing costs.<\/p>\n
“I feel so bloody hopeless,” she said in the statement.<\/p>\n
She has undergone counselling, physiotherapy, and speech therapy because she had had trouble speaking since the attack.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Paulette Mountford said the attack had shocked her local community. (ABC News)<\/p>\n
She said Sullivan’s actions had “taken away my life as I know it”.<\/p>\n
“What man in his right mind would stab someone three times?” she said.<\/p>\n
Sitting in the dock, Sullivan wept occasionally as the statement was read out.<\/p>\n
Justice Gary Cobby told Sullivan his conduct was too serious for a substantial reduction in jail time because of his age.<\/p>\n
Justice Cobby said Ms Mountford’s life had been “irretrievably damaged” by his actions.<\/p>\n
The judge said Sullivan had described himself as an alcoholic, and had recently been diagnosed as having alcohol dependence.<\/p>\n
He had a criminal history including weapons offences, assault and robbery, going back decades.<\/p>\n
He will be eligible to apply for parole when he is about 81 years old.<\/p>\n
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