Pa. man gets prison for stabbing victim on toilet

EASTON, Pa. (AP) - February 1, 2011

Philip Mark Gimpert had pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in December in the stabbing of his sister's boyfriend, Juan Cruz. Authorities say Cruz was in the upstairs bathroom at Gimpert's mother's home in Bethlehem when Gimpert attacked him last March.

At Friday's sentencing, Gimpert said he'd attacked Cruz over an earlier fight. Gimpert's lawyer told Judge Stephen Baratta his client was remorseful but Gimpert told the court he was sorry he's in jail.

Baratta said Gimpert wasn't acting in self-defense but waited a time the victim would be defenseless.

Prosecutors say Cruz escaped serious injury by fending off the attack with his arm.

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