A man has been jailed for seven years for attacking his ex-wife with a sword, but will serve at least some of the sentence as a mental health patient.
Manjit Singh Photo: NZ Police
Pukekohe man Manjit Singh, 48, attacked Leonie Singh, 50, using a ceremonial sword in her Fairview Downs home early last November.
He was first charged with attempted murder but the charge was withdrawn, and he pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to injure.
Singh, who has a history of mental illness, was sentenced at the High Court in Hamilton today.
The court heard he assaulted his wife, held what is thought to be an air pistol to her head then attacked her with a ceremonial sword after their two teenage children intervened.
She suffered major injuries to her hands, arms, face and head.
His son then took the blunt end of an axe to his head, but Singh grabbed it and fled from the house.
In her victim impact statement, his ex-wife Leonie said she was angry at the actions of her husband.
"I still feel love towards him but I feel angry at what he has done and the way that he did it. Basically Manjit is dead to me and his children now.
"I don't think that I will ever be able to trust him again.
Justice Woolford said Singh suffered from a delusional disorder and paranoid schizophrenia.
"This was an extremely violent and sustained attack on the victim, causing her serious injuries.
"But for your children's courage in intervening, the injuries may have been even worse."
The court ruled he would be detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act and would have the time he spent in hospital taken off his sentence.
