Joseph Tennessee Campbell: Teenager jailed for six years for fatally stabbing older brother in Kalgoorlie

The “damaged and vulnerable” 19-year-old who stabbed and killed his older brother in front of their family, including young children, will spend at least the next 3½ years behind bars. Joseph Tennessee Campbell was sentenced to six years imprisonment for the fatal stabbing of his 24-year-old brother by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Derrick on Thursday. His sentence was backdated to November 17, the day he was taken into custody after fatally stabbing his brother with a 15cm bladed knife, and he was made eligible for parole after serving four years. Campbell pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge after it was downgraded from an initial charge of murder, and was given a 25 per cent discount to his sentence. The court on Tuesday heard the brothers had been drinking from 3pm and at 10pm on November 17, 2022, a verbal altercation between the two escalated into a physical fight, with the pair pushing each other and exchanging blows. State prosecutor David Davidson said at one point Campbell picked up an empty beer bottle, but family members intervened and took it off him. Soon after, Campbell picked up a knife — described as a butter knife with a serrated edge and sharp tip — and the victim said “you have a knife, what do you plan on doing with that? Stab me you c…” before Campbell reached forward, around a family member who stood between them, and stabbed his brother in the chest. The fatal attack was captured on a neighbour’s security camera and was provided to the court. The victim was taken to hospital by St John Ambulance, but was declared dead at 11pm. Campbell’s blood alcohol reading was 0.14 per cent and he tested positive for cannabis. Defence lawyer Alana Woldan admitted Campbell fled the scene after the stabbing, but stated it was because he was “chased into the street” by his father. When police arrived a short time later, Campbell spoke to them on the corner of the street and told them “my father wants to bash me for no reason”. Police were then told by family members what had happened, and Campbell was arrested. No victim impact statements from the family were provided to the court, and no family members were present in the courtroom during his sentencing on Thursday. Justice Derrick stated the family would be in a difficult position, “torn” between grieving the loss of their loved one, and their concern for Campbell. The court was also told Campbell had no memory of the offending, and that when he was told his brother was dead he “broke down”. Justice Derrick said the stabbing was “in the heat of the moment” and was not premeditated. He also agreed Campbell did not intend to cause life-ending or life-threatening injury to his brother, and that his high level of intoxication and cannabis use contributed to his behaviour in the moment. In coming to his determination, Justice Derrick said he took into account the mitigating factors put forward by Ms Woldan, which painted Campbell as a “damaged and vulnerable” young man who grew up in an environment marred by violence and neglect and who developed a “fight or flight” response when faced with aggressive situations. Justice Derrick said Campbell’s mental health impairments which include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, and his use of alcohol and cannabis, were a reflection of the environment he was raised in, and were deemed mitigating factors. In a letter to the court, Campbell told how his brother was his best friend and when the two were not fighting, his brother would comfort and look after him. Justice Derrick also gave some weight to the fact Campbell was likely to face tribal punishment when released from prison, which would potentially see him hit with sticks and weapons, possibly to the head, when determining his sentence. With this being Campbell’s first time in prison, Justice Derrick said there was still a good chance of rehabilitation when released from prison. However, he said the offending was aggravated by the fact he armed himself with the knife after already having another weapon — the empty bottle — taken off him, although he agreed Campbell did not intend to cause life-ending or life-threatening injury to his brother. Justice Derrick accepted that Campbell was genuinely remorseful for the death of his brother, as well as the trauma and pain that he caused his family, especially his brother’s young daughter. Ms Woldan previously told the court that when released from prison, he planned to get a job in the mines and his own house so that he could be a good role model and provide support to his younger siblings.