Man Found Guilty of Manslaughter in Cousin's Drug-Related Killing

A judge has found Conrad Lardner, 51, guilty of manslaughter for the 2023 stabbing death of his cousin, David Vale, 39. The verdict was delivered in a judge-alone trial at Port Macquarie Supreme Court, which concluded after four weeks.

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I accept it is possible he armed himself with the knife, but there is no real evidence that supports the possibility, other than having the opportunity to do so.

Justice Stephen Campbell accepted that Lardner caused Mr Vale's death by stabbing him twice, with one wound penetrating the chest and the other the heart. Mr Vale died within 15 minutes of the attack. However, the judge determined there was insufficient evidence to prove Lardner's intent to commit murder.

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I want my f****** money back, what you gave me was shit I went to sleep on it.

The court heard that the fatal confrontation arose from a dispute over drugs. Mr Vale had reportedly confronted Lardner, demanding his money back and complaining that the drugs he received were "shit." Lardner told the court he refused to provide a refund.

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There's not a refund.

Justice Campbell did not accept the defense's claim that Mr Vale had purchased drugs from Lardner on the morning of the stabbing. The judge noted that conflicting accounts were given by witnesses, including Lardner himself, whose statements were often contradicted by prior statements to police. While acknowledging Lardner's voluntary act of stabbing caused the death, the judge found the act of stabbing twice provided some evidence of intent to inflict serious grievous bodily harm, leading to the manslaughter conviction.

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I am satisfied to a necessary degree the deceased had developed a grievance over the accused over the supply of inferior quality drugs which did not give him the desire he wanted.