What began as a dispute over money between four people ended with two suffering stab wounds and a woman with a blow that left her unconscious, with brain matter exposed, a court has heard.
Anthony Bates was sentenced to a maximum of four years in jail when he faced Newcastle District Court on Thursday afternoon over the affray, during which he stabbed a man and woman at Hamilton South on the night of December 11, 2022.
Bates's partner, Amanda Ahoy, received a 16-month jail term over the brawl.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Bates and Ahoy had been involved in a dispute over money with the other pair and went to their home several hours before the affray looking for somewhere to stay.
But when they were turned away, Bates and Ahoy scattered garbage from a nearby bin on the ground outside the pair's home.
Bates and Ahoy came across the man and woman again in Hassall Street, Hamilton South, about 11pm and a fight broke out.
The man - who was also charged and will stand trial after pleading not guilty over his role - allegedly grabbed a steering club lock from a car and hit Ahoy to the head.
Judge Peter McGrath said Ahoy was left with a serious injury to her forehead and brain matter was exposed to the open environment - leaving her with long-lasting effects.
He said Bates responded by pulling a knife from his backpack and stabbed the other woman - who had also fallen to the ground by this point - in the back of her neck.
She was later found outside John Hunter Hospital and had to be resuscitated due to "a massive loss of blood".
The man tried to grab the knife from Bates and suffered serious cuts to his hand, particularly the webbing between two of his fingers.
When the fight ended, Bates called police and told officers at the scene he stabbed two people.
Bates's sentence was backdated to account for time he has already spent in custody. He will be eligible for parole next March.
Ahoy will be released on parole at the end of this month.
