A woman who stabbed the new partner of her former husband after sneaking into his west Auckland home in the middle of the night has been jailed for more than five years.
Donglan Wu was imprisoned for five years and three months at the High Court in Auckland after earlier pleading guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to the woman in March last year.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment.
Wu entered her ex-husband's house in the early hours of March 17, 2021, and attacked his new partner with a knife after she got out of bed to go to the bathroom.
Before that, she had carried in two gas bottles from outside, placed them next to the victim's bed and opened the nozzles.
According to court documents, Wu cut the victim's head, neck and forearm. The laceration on her head went to the bone and the "severe, gaping wound" on her neck was about 8cm long.
Emergency services were called and Wu declined to comment to the police, but she was charged on the same day.
Just over a year before the stabbing, Wu had threatened to kill her son and commit suicide.
"You said you wanted to make headlines," Justice Matthew Downs said in sentencing remarks published online.
Through her defence lawyer, Wu had accepted "an element of premeditation", Justice Downs said.
However, Justice Downs said more than that was involved in her offending.
"Your offending involved more than an element of premeditation," he said.
"You had previously threatened very serious bodily harm. It cannot be a coincidence that on this occasion, you went to the home in the dead of night; moved gas bottles to the bedroom; and then, with a knife, inflicted very serious bodily harm."
Justice Downs said Wu had suffered from relationship failures and felt humiliated by her former husband's extra-marital behaviour.
In addition to the prison sentence, Justice Downs also issued a protection order.
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584