An "enraged" Masterton man who stabbed a 66-year-old stranger has written a letter of apology to his victim.
The 18-year-old, who has been granted interim name suppression until sentencing, pleaded guilty to injuring with intent when he appeared before Judge Peter Butler in Masterton District Court last week.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Jodie Lawrence said the unemployed teenager was at a family gathering in Ballance St on February 3 when he got into an argument and left the party.
He sat on a fence nearby and when the victim and his partner, unknown to him, walked past the victim commented "there is no need to be depressed", Ms Lawrence said.
"[The accused] confronted him and attempted to punch him. He was screaming and challenging the victim telling him 'you are going to be sorry'," she said.
The teenager "rushed at the victim" with a kitchen knife and swinging it, stabbed the victim in the torso, and punched him, the court heard.
The older man received a cut to the scalp and cut to the torso both requiring stitches.
"His family restrained him [the teenager] ... he was enraged."
Defence lawyer James Elliott said steps were being made for a restorative justice meeting to be held and handed up a letter of apology to the judge from his client.
"Background issues need to be addressed."
Judge Butler remanded the man on bail for a pre-sentence report and sentencing on May 12.
- Cherie Taylor of the Wairarapa Times-Age
