A man who stabbed a neighbour multiple times has told a court they had "been friends and enemies since we were kids".
Fasil Jember, 34, gave evidence during a sentencing hearing in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 22.
He previously pleaded guilty to intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm. A charge of attempted murder has been withdrawn.
On March 30, 2025, Jember attended the home of a woman he knew and argued with her neighbour.
He pulled out a knife and stabbed the neighbour several times, including in the chest, before assaulting the woman.
The stabbing victim was taken to hospital a short time later suffering from life-threatening injuries.
On Wednesday, Jember told the court he was "fuelled with jealousy" on the night of the attack and "rocking up being on ice for three days straight".
"The drugs didn't allow me to think the way I normally would," he said during cross-examination by prosecutor Marcus Dyason.
Jember said the knife was in the car and he brought it with him because "I knew it wasn't going to go my way".
"When he ran at me I pretty much had no choice but I should've done better, I shouldn't have done that.
"I could've diffused the problem."
Mr Dyason suggested to Jember that the stabbing victim had not run at him, but he denied this.
Defence barrister John Purnell SC asked about a recorded phone call Jember made from the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
The 34-year-old had said that if he got "out of here" he would "end both of them".
In court, Jember said that at the time he was still affected by drugs and "trying to make out I am a tough guy".
"When I came back to my normal self, I feel horrible about it," he said while giving evidence.
"I accept every bit of consequences I get.
"I've spent days and nights awake staring at the ceiling to reflect on where to go and what I want to do."
Justice Jon White is set to hand down Jember's sentence at a later date.
