The accused was convicted of assault with a weapon after stabbing his lifelong friend in an unprovoked attack.
The victim suffered serious physical and psychological harm.
The accused, a first-time offender, was experiencing psychosis and persecutory delusions at the time of the offence, which significantly mitigated his moral blameworthiness.
The court balanced the need for denunciation and acknowledgment of harm with the accused's ongoing rehabilitation and mental health treatment.
The accused was sentenced to 90 days' imprisonment, to be served intermittently, followed by two years of probation.
