Meat cleaver attack accused Manish Kumar on trial at Karratha Supreme Court for attempted murder of housemate

A Karratha man accused of trying to kill his housemate with a meat cleaver allegedly cut his victim’s arm to the bone when a “minor argument” turned into an “extreme situation” after an alleged racist slur. The four-day attempted murder trial of Bulgarra resident Manish Kumar began in Karratha Supreme Court on Monday, where it was alleged he attacked his housemate with a meat cleaver at about 6.10am on February 19, 2019 causing a deep arm laceration that went to the bone. The injury severed tendons, nerves and muscle in the victim’s arm and led to him losing movement in several fingers. In his opening statement, State Prosecutor Benjamin Stanwix said Mr Kumar chased his housemate, Dale Jenkins, around the couch in an attempt to continue the attack. Mr Stanwix said a minor argument turned into a scuffle before becoming an extreme situation when Mr Kumar grabbed the meat cleaver. “The injury to the forearm is consistent with a defensive wound — trying to protect his head and the State will try to prove this was an attempt at a fatal blow,” he said. Mr Stanwix said Mr Jenkins was flown to Perth for surgery and still had not recovered full use of his arm and hand from the injury. Mr Kumar’s lawyer John Hawkins said Mr Jenkins was aggressive and hostile towards Mr Kumar and the other housemates. “This was not just a minor incident, but a build up,” he said. Mr Hawkins said Mr Jenkins started the argument on February 19 when Mr Kumar returned to the house after dropping his wife off at work. “Manish walked into the house and the first thing he hears is ‘you are a f...... arrogant Indian c....’” he said. Mr Hawkins said Mr Jenkins began telling Mr Kumar to go outside and “lets settle this.” He said Mr Kumar grabbed the meat cleaver after Mr Jenkins put him into a guillotine hold. “There was no chopping, no attempt to strike, he (Mr Jenkins) moves in towards as he always does and there was contact,” he said. The trial continues today.