Man claims self-defence after stabbing cousin to death

Conrad Lardner does not deny fatally stabbing his cousin, but says he did so to save his own life.

The 51-year-old man appeared in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday after pleading not guilty to the murder of David Vale more than three years ago.

He is accused of stabbing Mr Vale twice on a footpath in Kempsey on the mid-north coast of NSW just before midnight on March 1, 2023.

The 39-year-old driver died from stab wounds while sitting behind the wheel of his car after allegedly arguing with Lardner.

Lardner is accused of stabbing his cousin with the intent to kill or cause serious harm, but defense attorney Dennis Stewart argued he reacted in self-defense.

He told the single-judge hearing in Port Macquarie that Lardner confronted an angry and agitated Mr Vale while he was smoking on the veranda and demanded they fight.

In his opening statement, Mr Stewart said the dead man accused Lardner of defrauding him during the drug deal.

“He was angry and agitated… and was hanging out to get drugs,” he said.

During the fight, a knife fell from Mr Vale’s clothing to the ground and the pair wrestled over it, exchanging blows, the court heard.

“Lardner feared he would be stabbed and possibly killed if David Vale successfully pulled the knife off him,” Mr Stewart said.

“(Lardner) was unable to escape from him and stabbed David Vale, and the defendant did so deliberately in self-defense.”

Mr Stewart said the man, now 51, had stabbed his cousin only once.

But prosecutor Brian Costello said Mr Vale was stabbed twice in the chest and arm, which was not consistent with an act of self-defence.

“(Lardner) pursued David Vale towards his car to cause stabbing injuries… the stabbing occurred as a result of an act of assault,” Mr Costello told the court.

The court was shown CCTV footage of Mr Vale kicking a man as he retreated towards his car from the alleged altercation.

The prosecutor said Mr Vale had traveled a short distance to his nephew’s home and arrived “profusely bleeding”.

The fatally injured man allegedly told his nephew that he had been stabbed by Lardner, but did not explain why the incident occurred.

Mr Vale had methylamphetamine, commonly known as ice, in his system when he died in his vehicle 300 meters from the scene.

The trial continues.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

Male Referral Service 1300 766 491

13THREAD 13 92 76