Man jailed for eight years after killing cousin over 'inferior drugs'

A man who fatally stabbed his cousin during an argument over low-quality drugs on the NSW Mid North Coast has been sentenced to more than eight years' jail.

Conrad Lardner was initially charged with the murder of his cousin David Vale in 2023.

In August this year, Lardner, 51, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by Justice Stephen Campbell in a judge-alone trial in the Supreme Court at Port Macquarie.

The court heard on March 1, 2023, Lardner stabbed his cousin David Vale outside a Kempsey property after he demanded a refund for "inferior quality drugs" supplied by Lardner.

During sentencing on Friday, Justice Campbell told the court Mr Vale started the fight when Lardner continued to "defy" him.

"The deceased had gone there to find out when the offender was going to repay him for the inferior drugs,"

Justice Campbell said.

"The offender expected to have money to repay the deceased some time that day, [saying] 'I'll have a couple of dollars for you, as soon as I get it I'll come up to your place'.

"That did not happen."

Lardner gave evidence during the trial that after a series of blows between the pair, he picked up the knife that had fallen out of Mr Vale's pocket.

During sentencing, Justice Campbell ruled he was satisfied on the balance of probabilities the knife came into the offender's possession after it fell onto the driveway.

"It makes it more likely the offender stabbed the deceased as a spontaneous reaction," he said.

Justice Campbell told the court Lardner had the intent of inflicting serious grievous bodily harm on Mr Vale when he stabbed him.

"The offender took the most extreme step available and plunged it into the deceased twice," he said.

Justice Campbell found Mr Vale was the initial aggressor and that he was determined to fight if there was no refund forthcoming for the drugs.

"The offender's response to the perceived threat was unreasonable," Justice Campbell said.

"He could have neutralised it by throwing [the knife] away from the deceased or moving it away.

"The option taken by the offender was most extreme … he preferred to fight than refund."

During sentencing, Justice Campbell took into account Lardner's deprived childhood, a diagnosis of anti-social personality disorder, and childhood sexual abuse.

The court also heard Lardner has cardiac disease and type 2 diabetes.

He was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, but will be eligible for parole in 2031.

Justice Campbell took into account the fact Lardner had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the local court.

Although that plea was not accepted by the prosecution, it did result in a 25 per cent discount on Lardner's sentence.

Outside court, Mr Vale's partner, Jessica Howard, told the ABC she thought the sentence was a "disgrace".