A man who stabbed a woman multiple times while she was taking out her rubbish bins in north Queensland has been sentenced to 14 years in jail. Roy Hilliard Nallajar, 44, pleaded guilty in January to the attempted murder of 40-year-old Skye Woodlands outside her home in the Townsville suburb of Pimlico.
Ms Woodlands was taking out two wheelie bins at 9:30pm on Halloween in 2018 when Nallajar approached her on the footpath and stabbed her multiple times in the chest and abdomen in an unprovoked attack. In the Supreme Court in Townsville on Tuesday, Justice David North said the vicious attack had left Ms Woodlands with debilitating permanent conditions.
The court heard there had been no prior interaction or provocation between the pair before the incident. Nallajar ran from the scene after Ms Woodlands' partner heard screams from inside the home and chased after the attacker. After being subdued by two neighbours, Nallajar reportedly said he was 'possessed' and heard 'voices in [his] head'.
Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said Nallajar had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis but had been non-compliant with treatment. In an interview with a prison psychiatrist six months later, he said he was on a 'total bender' using alcohol, ice and marijuana at the time of the offence.
Defence barrister Ross Malcomson said Nallajar's mental health and plea of guilty should be considered in sentencing. In his sentencing, Justice North acknowledged the serious nature of the offending and said Nallajar would remain a risk to the community if he ceased to be medically compliant and not remain sober. Justice North did not declare a parole date but noted that Nallajar had already served over four years in pre-sentence custody.
