Anthony Nugent claimed his friend was already injured when he arrived at his house, but he didn't know he was already being recorded in a 999 call
A former soldier who knifed his friend so badly his innards were hanging out changed his plea to guilty after hearing a 999 call recording of himself saying to the injured man “My God, I’ve stabbed you mate!”
Anthony Nugent had denied causing the devastating injuries to his pal Neil Johnson when he plunged a blade into him after the pair had been on an all-day drinking session
He was due to go on trial today, but changed his plea from not guilty after the prosecution produced his 999 call.
It revealed that before the operator spoke to him - before he knew the call had been connected - he had said: “My God, I’ve stabbed you mate.”
But when questioned by police, he told them that when victim Mr Johnson had arrived at his home in Nant Eos, Holywell , on June 1 he was already injured.
Police found a knife covered in blood in a kitchen drawer. The 20 centimetre blade had been pushed into Mr Johnson right up to the hilt, and his bowel was sticking out of the wound.
At Mold crown court, Judge Rhys Rowlands told Nugent, 45: “Both of you are extremely lucky that the wound was not more serious or even fatal.”
In a victim impact statement, Mr Johnson said he was left traumatised and in pain.
He had nightmares about the attack and could not understand why a so-called friend had done such a thing.
“He could have killed me. I feel lucky to be alive,” he said. He did not think he would ever get over the emotional stress.
Prosecutor David Maidstone said that the victim had been staying at Nugent’s home.
That evening, the Mr Johnson and his sister had been socialising with Nugent and his wife.
There had been an argument between Nugent and his partner because he believed that in her small dressing gown and boxer shorts, intimate parts of her body were on display.
Mr Johnson told him that he never looked upon the defendant’s partner that way because they were friends.
The sister later went home and more alcohol was purchased.
Later, Mr Johnson was in his room, and hearing arguments downstairs he went to see what was going on.
As the arguments continued, he went into the back garden. Nugent followed him outside and the victim felt a blow to his left side.
“He saw that he had been stabbed to the abdomen with a red handled knife,” said prosecutor David Maidstone.
Defending barrister Sion ap Mihangel said that his client recognised he was lucky he wasn’t facing a more serious charge.
He was not an alcoholic but had been drinking too much as a crutch for his depression following the death of his mother, whom he found dead.
On remand the defendant had time to reflect on his life, he had lost a considerable amount of weight, he was in an enhanced prison and was taking advantage of the many courses available to him in custody.
He had previously served in the army and had also obtained agricultural qualifications at LLysfasi College.
He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/holywell-stabbing-anthony-nugent-999-12004824
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