A recovering addict who refused a request to buy drugs has been jailed for at least four years for fatally stabbing another resident of an isolated northern NSW property.
The mother of the victim had told the killer's sentence hearing of the horror of going to his home afterwards and cleaning up what must have been his last meal.
Shane Nancarrow was found not guilty in March of the murder of Paul Donald on August 2, 2019 on August 2, 2019 at Dondingalong near Kempsey.
The Port Macquarie Supreme Court jury instead found him guilty of manslaughter, a charge he had admitted but which had not been accepted by the Crown.
Justice Peter Hamill on Thursday jailed Nancarrow for seven years and six months, with a non-parole period of four years.
Nancarrow, Mr Donald and two other men, who all lived on the property, had been drinking in the afternoon.
The judge accepted Nancarrow's evidence that Mr Donald asked him whether he could score some of the drug ice.
"His account is supported by the evidence of the other two men as to the events that unfolded later in the day," the judge said.
"I am satisfied that Mr Nancarrow's refusal to go into town to buy drugs created the friction that ended tragically many hours later."
Nancarrow was a recovering drug addict and on a methadone programme at the time.
The judge accepted that Mr Donald later punched him to the left side of his face when he refused a second request to obtain ice, before apologising.
The four men continued drinking before Mr Donald and Nancarrow argued about the benefits or otherwise of methylamphetamine and methadone
Mr Donald returned to his caravan, while Nancarrow went to his upstairs bedroom in the main house.
"It is tragedy that Mr Donald returned to the house," the judge said.
Both men were described as behaving aggressively, while Mr Donald was said to have acted like a "zombie" in a "trance state".
The judge was satisfied Nancarrow deliberately armed himself with a knife, albeit to defend himself.
The two stab wounds were caused "by his purposeful act in thrusting the knife in Mr Donald's direction".
"Mr Nancarrow did not intend to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm.
"This offender is to be sentenced on the basis that he committed an unlawful and dangerous act."
His criminal history reflected his long-standing struggle with drug addiction, while evidence suggested he has made strong, if recent, attempts at rehabilitation.
"Mr Donald's death has caused immeasurable grief to his parents, siblings and loved ones," Justice Hamill said.
His mother missed their regular phone calls when her son would speak about the rescue dogs he loved and cared for.
His sister Lisa said it was a senseless death while his brother Darren had not been able to sleep properly since the killing.
His other brother Wayne described his sibling as a top bloke, kind, hardworking and caring.
