Man Found Not Guilty of Murder, Guilty of Manslaughter in Stabbing of Cousin on NSW Mid North Coast

A judge has found a man who stabbed his cousin multiple times on the New South Wales Mid North Coast in 2023 not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Conrad Lardner, 51, was arrested on May 17, 2023, and charged with murdering his 39-year-old cousin David Vale. Mr Vale was found with stab wounds on Robert Eggins Street in South Kempsey on March 1, 2023.

The judge-alone murder trial began on June 29 at Port Macquarie Supreme Court and ran for four weeks. The court heard Lardner stabbed Mr Vale twice, with one puncture to the lower side of the chest and another through his rib cage and heart. Mr Vale died within 15 minutes. Judge Campbell delivered his verdict today, accepting that Lardner killed Mr Vale but saying there was insufficient evidence to prove intent.

"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," he said.

Fight over bad drugs

During Lardner's cross-examination, he told the court Mr Vale confronted him complaining about the quality of the drugs he was sold. "I said, 'There's not a refund,'" Lardner told the court. Justice Stephen Campbell told the court he did not accept the defence's evidence that Mr Vale bought drugs from Lardner on the morning of the stabbing.

"The accused gave evidence when the deceased arrived he was raving on about drugs the accused sold him," Justice Campbell said. "It seems to follow when the deceased complained about good quality drugs he was referring to a previous supply at some earlier point in time that evidence does not disclose."

It was the Crown case that during the "scuffle" between Mr Vale and Lardner outside the home, Lardner went back into the kitchen and retrieved a knife before stabbing Mr Vale twice. Justice Campbell said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt Lardner's "voluntary act" caused Mr Vale's death.

Defence barrister Dennis Stewart said Lardner acted in self-defence and that he picked up the knife which fell out of Mr Vale's pocket.

Conflicting accounts

Judge Campbell told the court that the 20 witnesses who gave evidence during the trial, including Lardner, were "contradicted, discredited and challenged" by prior statements made to police or witnesses.

"It just seems preposterous the deceased would bail him up about defective drugs which had never been supplied by him."

Jessica Howard, who was David Vale's partner at the time, said she was glad he "got some justice".

"I'm glad the outcome was manslaughter and not not guilty," Ms Howard said. "I don't really know how I feel because nothing is going to bring David back."

Lardner was originally refused bail but he was released on conditional bail on November 11, 2023. Today, Justice Campbell refused him bail to be sentenced on November 13.