bloodrayne
11-01-2004, 02:43 PM
Wife's Lover Attacked With Axe
A jealous husband attacked his estranged wife's lover with an axe, shattering the man's leg and leaving it more than a centimetre shorter after surgery, the Victorian Supreme Court heard today.
John Kostov, 44, formerly of Reservoir, has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and aggravated burglary.
Crown prosecutor Ray Elston told a pre-sentencing hearing today that Kostov broke into his former marital home in Clyde Street, Tarnagulla, north of Bendigo, on the night of September 23 last year, while his three sons and the victim, Mark Nicholson, were sleeping.
His estranged wife Lee-Anne Elliott was spending the night with her parents in Melbourne where she planned to file for divorce the following day.
Mr Elston said Mr Nicholson awoke to see Kostov standing in the doorway of the bedroom.
He said Kostov moved towards his intended victim, raised the axe above his head with both hands, and, aiming a blow at Mr Nicholson's head, said: "I am going to kill you ..."
The axe narrowly missed Mr Nicholson's head and struck him in the shoulder blade.
A second blow struck his leg, cutting through the flesh and shattering the femur.
Badly injured, Mr Nicholson struggled with Kostov and managed to wrench the axe from him, the court heard.
But Kostov ordered his terrified 12-year-old son to fetch a knife from the kitchen.
Mr Nicholson received grazes to his chest as Kostov slashed at him.
Eventually Kostov calmed down and left the house, Mr Elston told the court.
Before leaving, Kostov told Mr Nicholson: "If I had better eyesight, you would be dead."
Kostov's 12-year-old son wrapped Mr Nicholson's leg in a towel and called an ambulance.
Mr Nicholson, who needed a metal rod inserted into his leg, was still under medical treatment, Mr Elston said.
He had been left with a permanent limp and walked with a crutch.
Defence counsel James Montgomery said his client was "clearly jealous and possessive" and could not handle the fact his marriage was over.
As a result of the attack, his relationship with his three sons had been destroyed.
In victim impact statements, Kostov's sons said they never wanted to see him again.
Justice Murray Kellam will sentence Kostov on a date to be fixed.
A jealous husband attacked his estranged wife's lover with an axe, shattering the man's leg and leaving it more than a centimetre shorter after surgery, the Victorian Supreme Court heard today.
John Kostov, 44, formerly of Reservoir, has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and aggravated burglary.
Crown prosecutor Ray Elston told a pre-sentencing hearing today that Kostov broke into his former marital home in Clyde Street, Tarnagulla, north of Bendigo, on the night of September 23 last year, while his three sons and the victim, Mark Nicholson, were sleeping.
His estranged wife Lee-Anne Elliott was spending the night with her parents in Melbourne where she planned to file for divorce the following day.
Mr Elston said Mr Nicholson awoke to see Kostov standing in the doorway of the bedroom.
He said Kostov moved towards his intended victim, raised the axe above his head with both hands, and, aiming a blow at Mr Nicholson's head, said: "I am going to kill you ..."
The axe narrowly missed Mr Nicholson's head and struck him in the shoulder blade.
A second blow struck his leg, cutting through the flesh and shattering the femur.
Badly injured, Mr Nicholson struggled with Kostov and managed to wrench the axe from him, the court heard.
But Kostov ordered his terrified 12-year-old son to fetch a knife from the kitchen.
Mr Nicholson received grazes to his chest as Kostov slashed at him.
Eventually Kostov calmed down and left the house, Mr Elston told the court.
Before leaving, Kostov told Mr Nicholson: "If I had better eyesight, you would be dead."
Kostov's 12-year-old son wrapped Mr Nicholson's leg in a towel and called an ambulance.
Mr Nicholson, who needed a metal rod inserted into his leg, was still under medical treatment, Mr Elston said.
He had been left with a permanent limp and walked with a crutch.
Defence counsel James Montgomery said his client was "clearly jealous and possessive" and could not handle the fact his marriage was over.
As a result of the attack, his relationship with his three sons had been destroyed.
In victim impact statements, Kostov's sons said they never wanted to see him again.
Justice Murray Kellam will sentence Kostov on a date to be fixed.