A Kalgoorlie-Boulder man who stabbed his brother to death during an alcohol and drug-fuelled argument will be eligible for parole in four years.
Joseph Tennessee Campbell, 19, was today handed a six-year sentence in the Supreme Court for the manslaughter of his 24-year-old brother, Dillon Gregory Campbell, in November.
In sentencing, Justice Anthony Derrick described the killing as an "excessive" and "disproportionate" attack that could have been avoided.
"Your conduct amounted to a significant and totally unnecessary escalation in the violence that occurred," he said.
Justice Derrick said Campbell's "deprived" and "traumatic" upbringing contributed to the incident, but the excessive amount of alcohol and cannabis he consumed on the day could not be overlooked.
The court was told Campbell, who recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.149, did not remember the assault, with his last memory of the night being placed in the back of a police car.
When told he had killed his brother, Campbell broke down crying.
Twenty-four-year-old Dillon Campbell died at the Kalgoorlie Health Campus on November 17, from a single stab wound to the chest.
Justice Derrick said Campbell's actions that night, fuelled by drugs and alcohol, highlighted a "determination" to cause harm.
"Despite your family members having already taken one weapon off you [a glass bottle], you decided to take possession of another — the knife," he said.
"You engaged in determined efforts to arm yourself with a weapon."
He said while there were mitigating factors that needed to be taken into account, Campbell's actions increased the seriousness of the offence.
"At the time you picked up the knife and stabbed the deceased you were not under any significant threat," he said.
"There was a family member between the two of you. Indeed, you had to reach over the family member to stab the deceased."
Brother was 'best friend'
In a letter to the court, Campbell expressed remorse for the events that led to his brother's death, describing him as his best friend and someone he would turn to for support and comfort.
Campbell was told the maximum penalty for manslaughter was life imprisonment, but his age, clear remorse, and traumatic upbringing were taken into consideration.
Reports provided to the court found Campbell was raised in a violent home, and subjected to regular verbal and physical assaults from a young age that persisted into his teenage years.
"Your father started physically hurting you from around the age of eight or nine," he said.
"He was, and is, a violent man."
Justice Derrick said he was satisfied Campbell was genuinely remorseful and capable of rehabilitation, reducing his sentence by 18 months.
Campbell will be 23 when he is eligible for parole.
