Man jailed for axe attack

The Northern Territory's Chief Justice has told a man, who hit four people with an axe as they slept, that his case was a graphic demonstration of the tragedy of petrol sniffing and cannabis use among young Indigenous people.

Chief Justice Brian Martin sentenced Terrence Dhurrkay, 21, to five years jail to be suspended after two-and-a-half years.

The court heard that Dhurrkay had been sniffing petrol and had heard voices telling him to "kill those people".

Three of the four people attacked suffered skull fractures.

The Chief Justice said that Dhurrkay was in an incoherent psychotic state at the time of the attack.

He said the sentence reflected Dhurrkay's prospects for rehabilitation and the fact that his victims wanted his petrol dependence treated rather than a long sentence.

Newshawk: Peak Oil
Pubdate: 24th November 2004
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Copyright: 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation