Jail for 'very frightening attack’

Press, 16 August 1988, Page 31

Jail for 'very frightening attack’

A man, who committed a violent and very frightening attack on his de facto wife, who suffered a partial loss of vision, has been jailed for three years add four months by Mr Justice Williamson in the High Court.

Lance William Smith, aged 32, unemployed, was appearing for sentence on charges of wounding Paula Janette Roden with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and unlawfully taking a van. Evidence was given at Smith’s trial that Ms Roden was brutally beaten up by Smith, who was in a drunken and drugged state, because she was late in returning to a party after leaving to get

liquor. Mr Justice Williamson said that Smith punched the young woman he was living with, kicked her out of bed, struck her on the body with an ash tray stand, stabbed her in the head with a bayonet and scratched at her eyes. As a result of the attack, the woman suffered a depressed fractured skull, which required surgery to lift the bone, black eyes, a cut on the ankle and bruising. The woman said, in evidence, that she had a partial loss of vision as a result; that there was a possibility in the future that she would get epileptic fits; and there was some slight memory im-

pairment. Smith had taken three kinds of pills and drunk substantial quantities of tequila before the offence. He had a history of offending, mainly for dishonesty, but there were also convictions for cannabis and driving offences, and one for aggravated robbery. There was no alternative to imprisonment. The probation officer said that Smith had had an unsettled and violent upbringing which had contributed to his problems.

He said: “Without some determined effort to create changes for himself, Lance Smith faces a bleak future. The seriousness of his present offend-

ing precludes this service from making any recommendation.”

For Smith, Mr David Holderness said that this was a bizarre incident.

Smith was very upset and angry because Ms Roden had not returned to the party after she had left to get liquor. It was an unprovoked attack. Smith had been asleep for more than an hour when he awoke and attacked his sleeping partner.

It was difficult to explain his actions except that he had consumed a large number and variety of pills and a considerable amount of tequila. Ms Roden had been at his mercy, but he stabbed

her only once. It was obvious that Smith had not appreciated the lethal combination of pills and liquor.

He had many convictions, including some of a serious nature, but it was five years since he had had a serious conviction. Until 1983, Smith had an extremely chequered career, and his drug problem had continued since then.

Smith had been making an effort and had custody of his son, aged 11.

Because he was not able to sleep because of coming off hard drugs he had sought the assistance of a doctor. He had had a most unfortunate start in life, Mr Holderness said.