A 30-year-old man, Nikorn Phonsaya, has been sentenced to 38 months in jail for a road rage stabbing in Canberra. The incident occurred last year on Flemington Road in Mitchell, where Phonsaya stabbed a man after a verbal altercation.
The ACT Supreme Court heard that Phonsaya was tailgating the victim's car before both vehicles stopped at traffic lights. The victim's partner gestured for Phonsaya to move on, prompting Phonsaya to yell at the victim to pull over. The victim complied, stopping in a bus bay.
Both men exited their cars, and after an angry exchange, Phonsaya retrieved a knife from his vehicle and stabbed the victim. The victim required emergency hospital treatment, with Acting Justice Michael Elkaim noting that the injuries could have been fatal without prompt medical care.
Phonsaya pleaded guilty to recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm. The court was told he had breached 17 good behaviour orders in the past. Acting Justice Elkaim rejected a community-based sentence, stating that Phonsaya had not matured despite his age.
Phonsaya will be eligible for parole late next year. The victim and his partner continue to suffer from anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and PTSD, as well as ongoing health issues from an infected wound.
