Woman guilty after husband's chainsaw attack

Lisa Anne Perryman, 56, was jointly charged with her late husband Neville Perryman over the altercation with Horace Reginald Peter Monshing in southern Tasmania in November, 2020.

The prosecution argued Mrs Perryman either abetted or formed a common purpose with Mr Perryman to attack Mr Monshing.

Both Perrymans had pleaded not guilty to two counts of committing an unlawful act intended to cause bodily harm as well as assault.

Mrs Perryman, who faced trial alone in the Supreme Court of Tasmania after Mr Perryman's death in 2022, was found guilty by a jury on all three charges on Monday.

The court was earlier told the incident was an escalation of tensions over the Perryman's dog.

Mrs Perryman drove her husband to the Monshing's neighbouring Middleton property at night after drinking a bottle of white wine.

Mr Perryman walked up the Monshing's driveway with an operating chainsaw, while Mrs Perryman drove the car behind him with headlights on.

Mr Perryman swung the chainsaw towards Mr Monshing's head, connecting with his forearm and later his hand, exposing bone and ligaments.

The court was told Mrs Perryman said "I want him dead", "I want the dog to rip his throat out" and "I want you dead, your wife dead, your daughter dead and granddaughter dead".

Crown prosecutor Luke Ogden said the Perrymans were "bound up together" and Mrs Perryman encouraged the commission of the crime through her actions and words.

Mr Monshing said he defended himself with a wooden croquet mallet and was able to drive Mr Perryman away from the house.

Mr Monshing said he was bitten by the dog on both legs during the attack and was unable to walk properly for six months.

He also has ongoing problems with his arms, panic attacks when he hears chainsaws and had to stop volunteer work with the Tasmania Fire Service.

Mr Monshing said he and his wife were forced to move away from their "dream home" at Middleton.

"I feel I cannot leave my wife alone," he told the court.

"My wife and I both feared we would lose our life. (I) deal with it every day."

Mrs Perryman's lawyer Kim Baumeler argued her husband was the one in charge.

Ms Baumeler said there had been no evidence about any conversations before the attack and Mr Perryman's walk up the driveway was proof he was "working to his own beat".

Mrs Perryman, whose bail was continued, will be sentenced in July following assessments of her mental health.

Australian Associated Press