A man charged over a North Nowra home invasion in 2017, where guns were produced and a man was stabbed, has been found not guilty of attempted murder.
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Nicholas Jeremey Hardes, 36, of Nowra, pleaded guilty to aggravated entering a dwelling with intent with a dangerous weapon and was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm by a jury in Nowra District Court on Monday, November 4.
The jury found Hardes not guilty of attempting to discharge loaded arms at a person with intent to murder and firing a firearm at a house with disregard for safety.
Hardes will be sentenced in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on February 2 next year.
At the February sentencing Judge Chris O'Brien will also consider five other charges, including discharging a firearm intending to cause grievous bodily harm, aggravated enter dwelling with intent to wound, cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder, carrying a cutting weapon and supplying a prohibited drug.
Court papers tendered by the prosecution said a 37-year-old man was stabbed twice during the attack in Goolagong Street, North Nowra on June 11, 2017.
Hardes and a co-accused, Benjamin Allen Hand, 45, who has already been sentenced to 10 years' jail over the incident, entered the home around 11am and found the victim asleep.
The victim awoke to a knocking on his locked bedroom door, and upon opening the door, recognised the two men.
Court papers said as he turned back toward his bed he was hit in the back of the head with a blunt instrument and fell to the ground, before being stabbed twice.
The victim told police he was confronted by Hand and Hardes who were armed with a shortened rifle and a handmade "mini oozy".
Police said the men fired their weapons but both failed to discharge.
Hardes and Hand ran from the property and the victim, bleeding profusely, grabbed a shortened 410 shotgun and fired a shot towards the two fleeing men.
Court papers said one of the men fired back, hitting brickwork next to the front door.
The victim was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and airlifted by helicopter to St George Hospital in Sydney where he underwent surgery.
A crime scene was established at the home with forensic officers and detectives combing the property for two days.
Court papers said when arrested Hardes was in possession of a Stanley knife.
Hardes also pleaded guilty to supplying methylamphetamine in North Nowra on June 7.
Hardes remains in custody and will be sentenced in February next year.
Read more: Crime/Court