A real estate manager who brutally stabbed a friend’s wife right in the heart has learned in court what happened to him.
Matthew Brian Ramsay, 48, admitted stabbing the woman in the chest with a 25cm kitchen knife in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on the afternoon of August 8, 2022.
Ramsay was charged with wounding with intent to murder, but this was dropped when he reached a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
On Friday, Judge David Barrow sentenced Ramsay to six years and eight months in prison at the New South Wales District Court, while his victim said she wished he had received a longer sentence.
A non-parole period of three years and eight months was set, meaning that given the time Ramsay has already served, he could be released in October 2026.
The incident marks the downfall of the successful real estate manager who brokered sales worth tens of millions of dollars.
The court heard that Ramsay suffers from an addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol that does not work and that he was likely in a prescription drug-induced delirium on the day he stabbed the woman at her exclusive home.
He had taken a cocktail of psychoactive drugs and tranquilizers on the advice of doctors in the days before the incident while staying at The Sydney Clinic rehabilitation centre, Daily Telegraph reported.
Property director Matthew Ramsay (pictured), who stabbed a friend’s wife near the heart in a horrific attack, has heard his fate in court
Ramsay left the clinic on the morning of the crime, went to his own home, which was nearby, grabbed a kitchen knife and drove to the woman’s home in Dover Heights, 8km east of Sydney’s CBD.
Ramsay was a friend of the victim’s husband and knew about his addictions, so she wasn’t worried about her safety when he knocked on her door.
But once Ramsay entered the house, his mood changed, she told police.
He looked at her with an intense look on his face, said “sorry”, then pulled the knife from his jacket and stabbed her in the left chest, near her heart, the court heard.
The woman resisted and Ramsay attempted to stab her again before running out the front door.
He then jumped on her back and put his hand over her mouth to try to stop her from screaming, but tradesmen working nearby heard her screams and came to help.
They distracted Ramsay, allowing the victim to go back inside and call police.
She was later taken to hospital, where a 3cm wound on her chest was stitched up. She was allowed to go home the next day.
Ramsay left the scene of the crime but was arrested a short time later on Campbell Parade in Bondi Beach.
He was initially remanded in custody but was later granted bail so he could live in a rehabilitation center and receive treatment.
However, he ignored bail and was remanded in custody, the court heard.
Medical reports revealed that Ramsay had been a chronic alcoholic his entire adult life and had suffered an alcohol-related brain injury as a result.
He was prescribed antipsychotics and tranquillisers, including Baclofen, Valium and Stilnox, in very high doses in an attempt to control his alcoholism, the court heard.
His use of these drugs, and his attempts to stop using other drugs, likely left him in a state of delirium at the time of his crime, Judge Barrow heard.
The judge said Ramsay’s condition on that day significantly reduced his moral culpability and that he was remorseful for his crime.
Judge Barrow said Ramsay had written a letter to the victim apologising, saying he had been sober in prison and that he wanted to “get back to the person he used to be”.
Ramsay (pictured left) was arrested a short time later on Campbell Parade in Bondi Beach
When Ramsay is released, he is expected to live with his cousin and work for his brother, the court heard.
Her victim, who has a scar above her heart, said she wished Ramsay had received a longer sentence.
“I just wanted a few more years before he got out of prison,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘This perpetrator has taken away my sense of security.’