A man who stabbed a woman multiple times while she was taking out her rubbish bins in north Queensland has been sentenced to 14 years in jail.
Roy Hilliard Nallajar, 44, pleaded guilty in January to the attempted murder of 40-year-old Skye Woodlands outside her home in the Townsville suburb of Pimlico.
Ms Woodlands was taking out two wheelie bins at 9:30pm on Halloween in 2018 when Nallajar approached her on the footpath and stabbed her multiple times in the chest and abdomen in an unprovoked attack.
In the Supreme Court in Townsville on Tuesday, Justice David North said the vicious attack had left Ms Woodlands with debilitating permanent conditions.
"She felt sharp stabbing pain deep in her chest and heard the sounds of her skin being pierced by each stab inflicted by the defendant," Justice North said.
"It's affected her in her life, her capacity to enjoy life, her capacity to work, and it's affected her relationship with her partner."
The court heard there had been no prior interaction or provocation between the pair before the incident.
Nallajar ran from the scene after Ms Woodlands' partner heard screams from inside the home and chased after the attacker.
After being subdued by two neighbours, Nallajar reportedly said he was "possessed" and heard "voices in [his] head".
Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said Nallajar had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis but had been non-compliant with treatment.
But she said statements taken on the night of the incident showed Nallajar said he was not suffering from hallucinations.
In an interview with a prison psychiatrist six months later, he said he was on a "total bender" using alcohol, ice and marijuana at the time of the offence.
"It was clear his voluntary intoxication was a principal agent in the commission of this offence," Ms Sheppard said.
"It was this lengthy history of alcohol and-or drug abuse which has led to whatever thought that was operating on him at the critical time."
Defence barrister Ross Malcomson said Nallajar's mental health and plea of guilty should be considered in sentencing.
Mr Malcomson told the court the defendant showed signs of remorse for the attack in an interview with a psychiatrist.
"I feel for the victim though, and I should be punished. I know I need help but I should do the time," the court heard Nallajar had said.
In his sentencing, Justice North acknowledged the serious nature of the offending and said Nallajar would remain a risk to the community if he ceased to be medically compliant and not remain sober.
"You [Nallajar] attacked an innocent person who was just performing routine domestic chores on the footpath outside her residence," Justice North said.
Justice North did not declare a parole date but noted that Nallajar had already served over four years in pre-sentence custody.
