A MAN allegedly told his wife during a fight in their Jesmond unit "I'm going to get serious" before he stabbed her in the neck in an attempt to kill her, a court has heard.
Aimal Ghouse is standing trial in Newcastle District Court accused of wounding with intent to murder on April 9, 2021.
Crown prosecutor Brendan Queenan told the jury of 12 men and women during his opening address on Friday they could expect to hear "conflicting versions" about what happened that night.
The prosecution case is that Ghouse and his wife were fighting in the kitchen of their Jesmond unit, shouting and gesturing at each other, when the verbal argument escalated.
Ghouse is accused of grabbing a knife from the sink area and saying "I'm going to get serious, don't make me do it".
Prosecutors allege a scuffle unfolded, where the husband and wife both ended up on the floor, before Ghouse "lunged" at her multiple times.
The Crown case is that the woman was yelling at Ghouse to let her go and kneed him in the stomach as he choked her, before he stabbed her in the neck, cutting her carotid artery.
A neighbour was expected to give evidence that they saw the accused "run out of the house holding a knife in his right hand", Mr Queenan said.
Another allegedly saw a witness with blood on their hands knocking on their window asking for urgent help.
Mr Queenan said police found Ghouse lying in the driveway when they arrived at the scene at about 6.40pm and administered first aid to the woman, before paramedics arrived and took her to John Hunter Hospital.
The Crown case is that officers found an eight-centimetre silver knife on the ground near a unit. Ghouse was arrested.
When a nurse at the hospital asked the woman who hurt her, she allegedly responded, "If I tell you, my husband will kill me", Mr Queenan said.
The jury was told how Ghouse's wife later drafted an undated letter claiming any statements that had been made against him were "false and misleading" and that the incident was "an accident".
"You are going to hear some conflicting versions as to what occurred," Mr Queenan told the court.
The Crown is expected to call witnesses to the alleged stabbing, neighbours, police, paramedics, a doctor and a nurse as part of the prosecution case.
Ghouse has pleaded not guilty to the charge of wound with intent to murder and the alternative of wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
During his opening address, defence barrister Stephen Hopper told the jury the alleged victim says she does not remember what happened.
She was expected to give evidence in court on Friday afternoon.
Mr Hopper said the focus of the defence case would be on the "intent", and on the "causation" of the wound, meaning how it happened.
"It's a matter for you to assess that evidence and then decide what to do with that evidence," he said.
The trial, before Judge Philip Ingram, continues.
