A woman has bravely faced her attacker in court after he struck her with a samurai sword during a vicious drug and alcohol fuelled attack of ‘senseless violence’.
Karl Adon Howard appeared in the NSW District Court on Friday for a hearing to determine his sentence after he admitted to attacking two women during a terrifying ordeal.
He pleaded guilty to assaulting one woman and causing her actual bodily harm and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to the second woman.
However, the 46-year-old was found not guilty of intending to kill or murder the woman he attacked with a samurai sword. His lawyer argued he was unable to form the intent to harm the woman because he was experiencing drug psychosis.
The two women were at Howard’s Annandale unit in Sydney’s inner west on a night in February 2021, the court was previously told.
Karl Howard (above) will be sentenced later this year after he attacked two women in his inner-west Sydney home
One of the women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court Howard held her against a wall, punched her, and then struck her with a samurai sword while she was lying on the ground.
‘I stand before you today as a survivor of a brutal and life-altering attack which took place two years ago,’ she told the court.
‘The physical pain was excruciating but the emotion and psychological pain and trauma that followed has been immeasurable.’
The victim explained the unprovoked attack had a ‘profound and lasting effect on (her) life’ and she suffered ‘ongoing pain and anguish’ and ‘immeasurable’ psychological pain.
She told the court she had undergone ‘multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation’ to recover after the frightening attack left her ‘nearly dead’.
While attending eight medical appointments a week, the woman explained she was left wondering if she would ever be able to use her right arm again.
One of the victims of the attack told the court Howard held her against a wall, punched her, and then struck her with a samurai sword (pictured, police photos of the gruesome scene after the attack)
Howard was found not guilty of intending to kill or murder the woman he attacked with a samurai sword (above)
‘I’ve had to face countless challenges as I rebuild my life,’ she said.
‘The attack has affected every aspect of my existence.’
The victim said everyday tasks had been made ‘insurmountable’ by the ‘deep and lasting consequences of this senseless act of violence’.
‘I am so grateful to be alive,’ she told the court.
A trial last year was told Howard began acting erratically and making violent gestures and told the women he had taken valium and Viagra.
The real estate agent was also seen consuming large quantities of cocaine throughout the evening.
He was in the middle of a cocaine bender at the time of the vicious attack and hadn’t slept for seven days, the court was previously told.
Howard (above) pleaded guilty to assaulting one woman and causing her actual bodily harm and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to the second woman
Judge Antony Townsend told the court he was considering sentencing Howard to an intensive corrections order, which would allow him to serve his term in the community.
‘It’s not a course I would consider except for the fact that he spent such a long time in incarceration already,’ he said.
The real estate agent spent a year in custody on remand before he was granted bail to attend a rehabilitation facility.
The judge noted that the sentence would allow him the best opportunity to commit to rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol.
Crown prosecutor Stephen Wilkinson argued that Howard had recently breached his strict bail conditions by drinking alcohol, which raises the possibility of further noncompliance.
Judge Townsend allowed the real estate agent time to prove he could commit to rehabilitation and comply with his bail conditions.
The court found Howard was experiencing drug psychosis on the night of the attack (pictured, Howard during the arrest)
Howard hid in the tray of a ute (above) in an attempt to evade police following the attack
The matter will return to court on November 17. Until that time, the court heard Howard is required to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
After he fled his Ferris St home on the night of the vicious attack, the 46-year-old was captured on CCTV running into a nearby laneway and jumping into the back of a ute.
He covered himself in the tarp before staggering out of the tray and running off down the street. He was arrested only minutes later.
In police body camera footage played in his trial, Howard can be seen writhing on the ground and growling like an animal at officers during his arrest.
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