Qld: Man jailed for eight years over stabbing outside nightclub

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2006
Qld: Man jailed for eight years over stabbing outside nightclub

By Jade Bilowol

BRISBANE, Aug 29 AAP - A man has been jailed for eight years for repeatedly stabbing
another man following a drunken brawl outside a Brisbane nightclub.

Khanh Dinh Nguyen, 24, of Inala in Brisbane's outer-west, today pleaded guilty in the
Brisbane Supreme Court to grievous bodily harm with intent over the stabbing of Dang Hai
Dang, 22, on April 2 last year.

Nguyen also was declared a serious violent offender, meaning he must serve at least
80 per cent of his sentence.

The court was told that an intoxicated Dang was removed from Caesers nightclub in central
Brisbane shortly before 3am (AEST).

Outside on the footpath, a scuffle broke out between Dang and Nguyen, who was also
drunk, in which Dang delivered a punch before walking away.

However, Nguyen followed Dang, yelling "Do you want to have a go?" before charging
at him and stabbing him five times with a carving knife - twice in the side of his torso
and three times in the back.

The court was told Dang would have bled to death if he had not received rapid medical
intervention.

Dang was hospitalised for a week after undergoing life-saving surgery to mend his bleeding
lung and arteries near his ribs that had been severed in the attack.

Chief Justice Paul de Jersey told the court the crime was more serious because Dang
had walked away from the brawl before he was stabbed.

"The important fact is the complainant 'detached' himself from you and walked down
Adelaide Street," Justice de Jersey said.

However, Nguyen's lawyer Damian Walsh said Dang initiated the fight by throwing a punch.

"(Nguyen) used a knife in a situation where he had been pushed," Mr Walsh said.

He said his client was remorseful for his actions.

Mr Walsh asked that Nguyen not be deemed a serious violent offender because of the
"heat of the moment flavour of the incident".

However, Justice de Jersey disagreed, saying: "The community rightfully expects a sentence
which will ... (act as a) deterrent and strong denunciation."

Chief Justice de Jersey declared the 514 days Nguyen had already spent in custody be
included in the sentence.

AAP jvb/sc/ks/bwl

KEYWORD: NGUYEN

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