A Tasmanian man who attempted to murder his family with a box cutter on his wedding anniversary has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Damian Leslie Harper received his sentence for the attempted murder of his wife and two sons in Cuprona, near Burnie, in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old man was found guilty by a jury of three counts of attempted murder, one count of wounding and aggravated burglary.
The court heard how Harper travelled almost 280 kilometres from Bridgewater to his in-laws’ home in the north with a box cutter, knife and cricket bat to carry out the attack.
Harper has been in custody since the incident on January 2, 2019, when he waited outside his in-laws’ house, where his wife and children were staying, and then entered through the kitchen window.
He slashed the neck of one of his sleeping sons and when his wife woke up to the screams, he stabbed her in the neck and hands.
The boy suffered a 6cm cut to his neck near the jugular vein, which could have been fatal if the vein had been severed.
Harper displayed no remorse and held a distorted belief that his wife had wronged him, motivating him to harm her by killing their sons and then himself.
The courageous actions of the boys’ grandmother and grandfather, who intervened and restrained the man, were praised by Justice Tamara Jago.
Justice Jago said Harper’s controlling behavior and delusional jealousy were attributed to a personality disorder, though it only marginally reduced his culpability.
Harper caused severe physical injuries to his victims, from which they were able to recover, but the psychological impact has been profound.
The court heard that Harper’s personality disorder had a slight impact on his moral culpability, but he still exhibited no remorse.
Due to the immediate danger Harper poses to his victims, he will not be eligible for parole until 2030 after he has served 11 years in prison.
