By 3 News online staff
The knife-wielding Somali refugee who went on a stabbing rampage in Christchurch in March has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.
Judge David Saunders handed down the sentence at the Christchurch District Court which includes the provision that he must serve half his prison term before being eligible for parole.
Zakariye Mohammed Hussein, 27, began his crime spree at Redwood Primary School in the early hours of March 15 where he threatened two staff with a knife.
Police were called but Hussein evaded them, hijacking a nearby pie delivery truck and holding its driver, Marteine Robin, at knife-point demanding he be driven around the city.
After an hour of driving, Hussein stabbed Ms Robin who stopped her van in morning rush hour traffic at a busy intersection and fled.
Hussein tried hijacking another car, banging on windows and was then confronted by a Christchurch City Council worker.
Hussein stabbed him several times before a truck driver intervened and a fight ensued.
Police arrived and tried to pepper spray and taser Hussein, who was brandishing two knives.
When that failed to subdue him, they shot him in the shoulder and the wrist.
Hussein has been at Hillmorton psychiatric hospital since the day of the rampage and has no use of the arm which police shot at.
His lawyer Allister Davis says Hussein doesn’t know what caused him to do what he did and told medical professionals he felt “possessed by the devil”.
Mr Davis also says Hussein has no criticism of police for shooting him.
“He accepts his behaviour on the day warranted exactly what happened,” says Mr Davis.
Hussein hadn’t taken medication in the days before the incident and had spent the night sleeping in bushes at the school before he began his spree of attacks.
His sentence includes charges of intent to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnapping and possessing a knife without lawful intent.
Judge Saunders gave him a discount for his depression, remorse, personal circumstances and guilty pleas.
He was initially charged with attempted murder but police dropped that charge in June.
Hussein will be eligible for parole in three-and-half-years.
3 News