Six years for stabbing ex-partner

Frazer was sentenced at Laganside court complex

A County Antrim man who stabbed his former partner seven times in an attack which penetrated her lung has been jailed for six years.

Michael Anthony Frazer, 40, admitted a charge of wounding with intent after the incident at their home in Tirowen Drive, Lisburn, last April.

Sentencing him at Belfast on Friday, the judge said he had subjected his ex-partner, Elaine Jordan, to a "frightening ordeal".

Earlier, prosecution QC Ken McMahon told Craigavon Crown Court that Frazer "took very badly" her news that the relationship was over.

Mr McMahon said that on 2 April 2002, Ms Jordan had returned after a night out with work colleagues to be confronted by Frazer at their home.

"When she was standing against the kitchen sink he lifted a small vegetable knife and pointed it towards her throat and said he was going to kill her," said the lawyer.

'Pain in neck'

The court heard that she laughed this off telling Frazer to "wise up" but he dragged her to the floor and started kicking her, "first to the head and then the lower body".

Mr McMahon said that when she got up "she felt pain in the back of her neck" and when she reached around, she discovered the knife was still sticking into her.

The lawyer said that their five-year-old son had witnessed the attack and had been "squealing 'stop it daddy'".

Ms Jordan managed to get out of the house and went to a neighbour's who called an ambulance and the police.

Mr McMahon said that when she was taken to Lagan Valley Hospital, they found she had been stabbed seven times and that one of the wounds was around two inches deep, penetrating a lung.

The lawyer said that when police got to the house, Frazer told them he "had been waiting for them", adding that when they asked why, he replied: "It was me that did it".

'Bit frisky'

During police interviews, Frazer told officers he had waited up all night for her to come home and had started drinking at about 0600 BST.

He claimed that when she did get back at about 1100 BST "she was a bit frisky and cheeky" and he "lost it".

Frazer had originally been charged with attempting to murder Ms Jordan but later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of wounding her with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Defence QC John Orr said it was clear that Frazer "didn't want to terminate the relationship".

He added that "drinking was clearly something which led to something that was completely out of character and a complete loss of control".

Sending Frazer to jail, Mr Justice Higgins said he had subjected his former partner to a "frightening ordeal".

He said the use of knives "has become all too frequent, not just in street confrontations but also in domestic scenarios".