A man who unleashed an “armed onslaught” at a wake by stabbing his partner’s lover a dozen times is set for a lengthy stint in jail for murder.
Ricky Duke Doolan, 33, killed Richard Mills, a 32 year old Tamworth man, in Boggabilla, in September 2022, after they had both attended the funeral of one of Mr Mills’ family members.
Doolan, who earlier threatened to harm Mr Mills in Facebook posts after discovering he had an affair with the 33-year-old’s long-term partner, pleaded guilty to murder.
The NSW Supreme Court heard Doolan and Mr Mills initially went to separate wakes after the funeral.
But they ended up at the same event after Doolan’s partner mistakenly determined Mr Mills was not there.
Doolan admitted he turned up to the event with a large knife for his protection before confronting Mr Mills about the relationship, pushing him and engaging in a stabbing onslaught.
Despite the attack being brief, Justice Richard Button said it led to the infliction of 14 wounds.
“Some of them were deep and very forceful, and there was a phase of the assault when the offender was standing over the deceased, who was defenceless on the ground trying to move, no doubt in a fruitless effort to survive,” he said.
Paramedics found Mr Mills dead when they arrived a short time later.
Justice Button said the “atrocious” violence was an example of domestic violence, which he called “a notorious scourge within Australian society”.
“That is because the offender could not accept that all adults in this country are entirely free to engage in romantic and intimate relationships with other adults as they see fit, without suffering threats of violence … let alone being stabbed to death,” he said.
“There was undoubtedly an intention to kill. (Mr Mills) was defenceless in the face of an armed onslaught.”
The court was told Doolan, a Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi man, experienced “grave” domestic violence as a result of his father’s alcohol abuse when growing up.
Having initially stood over Mr Mills after the attack, the judge found Doolan was in tears soon after and began to feel remorse for the murder.
As the victim’s family members read impact statements earlier this week, Doolan sat with his head in his hands.
“I infer that that was an act of shame, distress and recognition of the enormity of the harm that he has done to so many,” Justice Button said.
Doolan had a prior conviction for assault after punching his partner in the face and kicking her twice.
The attack left her unconscious, bloodied and with a broken nose.
Justice Button sentenced Doolan to 18 years and nine months in jail with a non-parole period of 14 years.
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