Adam Azzi jailed for a total of 11 years over manslaughter
A man found guilty of manslaughter over a stabbing death at Lavington has been jailed for a total of 11 years.
In the Wagga Supreme Court, Justice Michael Walton sentenced Adam Jay Azzi to a non-parole period of seven years and three months on the manslaughter charge, with an additional parole period of two years and nine months.
On a second charge of using an offensive weapon with intent to commit the indictable offence of intimidation, Azzi was sentenced to a total of five years, with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.
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He would become eligible for parole in February 2025, having been in custody since November 2016. Azzi was convicted over the stabbing of Lloyd Kennedy outside a Webb Street house on November 6, 2016.
Mr Kennedy died of a single knife wound to his heart, with Azzi found guilty of manslaughter at trial last year in Wagga Supreme Court. He was found not guilty of murder.
As Azzi was led from the courtroom after being sentenced on Friday, family and friends of Mr Kennedy jeered and hurled abuse at him.
Lloyd Kennedy died of a single stab wound to the chest.
Previously, the court has heard that in November 2016, Mr Kennedy and his friend Nathan Vercoe had gone to the Lavington house where Azzi was staying to recover some money.
Azzi, 46, became agitated during a conversation at the front door and went to get a knife and table leg. Mr Vercoe picked up a tabletop to defend himself.
During the incident, Mr Vercoe tripped, so Mr Kennedy put himself between Azzi and his friend, but Mr Kennedy and Azzi ran into each other, resulting in the knife penetrating Mr Kennedy's heart.
Earlier this month, Mr Kennedy's partner, Sianne Mather, sobbed heavily in the Supreme Court as she spoke of his death.
"My children still have nightmares of the monster who took their dad away," she said.
"I've not only lost my partner and my fiance but I've lost my best friend.
"I never got to share my son's first words and his first steps."
The late man's stepdaughter said the incident was a "nightmare" that had "ripped our whole family apart".
"(He was) tragically taken out of our lives ... our whole world was destroyed."
Justice Walton told the court that the use of the knife by Azzi was disproportionate to any danger posed by Mr Vercoe.
ATTACKED: Azzi also lunged at Mr Kennedy's friend, Nathan Vercoe, with the knife.
He said it was a "deliberate and aggressive act".
In sentencing Azzi, Justice Walton referred to emotional victim impact statements previously given to the court by Mr Kennedy's partner, Sianne Mather, and his brother Brendon.
"The continuing effect on each member of the family is different, but is profound and ongoing," Justice Walton said.
The court heard Azzi had a lengthy criminal record and a long-standing drug dependence.
"It cannot be said he is a person of good character," Justice Walton said, adding that there had been no evidence of remorse from Azzi.