Father Sentenced for Fatally Stabbing Son in Dispute Over Family Photograph

John Steele and his son David were looking through photographs of their former partner and mother, Jennifer Cole, who had died from cancer a day earlier.

Shortly after, David Steele was found dead on the floor from a single catastrophic stab wound to his neck.

A Supreme Court justice described the case as “unusual and very tragic” on March 19 as she sentenced Mr. Steele to six years and nine months in jail after the 76-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The two men were living together on April 28, 2022, at a property in South West Rocks, on New South Wales’ (NSW) mid-north coast.

A day before, Ms. Cole had died from cancer at Kempsey Hospital.

After going out to dinner together along with Steele’s daughter, Aimee Cicciarello, the trio returned home and began looking at family photos and talking about Ms. Cole.

Related Stories

Mr. Steele had separated from Ms. Cole many years earlier after having been married for 17 years and raising three children together, but remained on good terms.

An argument broke out when David claimed Mr. Steele and Ms. Cole were arguing in one of the photographs.

The argument escalated to the point where Steele retrieved a knife from the kitchen, threatening to harm David if he came closer.

The 39-year-old moved towards his father quickly, resulting in Mr. Steele stabbing him once in the neck.

Paramedics found David lying on the dining room floor surrounded by blood, with Mr. Steele by his side.

As he was taken away, Mr. Steele reassured Ms. Cicciarello that he was responsible for what had happened.

He told police that he couldn’t clearly recall the incident but believed his son was going to push or knock him over.

“I miss my son immensely and wish I could turn back time, but I can’t,” Mr. Steele expressed in a letter to the court.

Justice Jennifer Davies, in her sentencing, described the event as “unusual and very tragic” and remarked on the alternatives available to avoid the unfortunate outcome of stabbing his son.

Steele will be eligible for release on Oct. 27, 2025, with a non-parole period of three years and six months backdated to his arrest.