Ali Rajabi jailed for stabbing brother in neck after running over him with his car at Monash

A man who drove over his own brother twice before stabbing him in the neck said a judge’s sentence was a “bit harsh”, despite being eligible for parole in less than a year.

A man was “emotionally exhausted” when he drove over his gambling-addicted brother twice before stabbing him in the neck, a court has heard.

Ali Rajabi, 39, told a judge he believed his sentence was a “bit harsh” despite being eligible for parole in nine months for the violent act that left his brother with serious injuries.

The Adelaide District Court on Thursday heard Rajabi and his younger brother, Rohulla Rajabi, were driving on Sturt Highway at Monash on November 9, 2020.

After they got into an argument, Rohulla got out of the car and started walking.

The court heard Rajabi then drove towards his brother and hit him with the car, before he performed a U-turn and drove again over his brother’s body, which was laying on the dirt ground.

Rajabi then got out of the car, pulled out a knife and stabbed his brother twice in the neck.

The Renmark father-of-three, who was initially charged with attempted murder, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm with intent to cause serious harm.

The court heard Rohulla, who was hospitalised for close to a month, had not assisted police with the investigation or provided a victim impact statement.

However, he had written a letter to the court admitting he had been “sometimes unreasonable” and didn’t want Rajabi’s reputation as a good Australian citizen to be ruined by the offending.

“Your brother appears to concede that his behaviour has contributed to your loss of control,” Justice Judy Hughes said during sentencing.

The court previously heard Rohulla moved from Afghanistan to come live with Rajabi’s family in Renmark in 2012.

“His brother … was extremely abusive,” Nicholas Healy, for Rajabi, said.

“This was subject of great embarrassment to Mr Rajabi (as he) was an extremely well respected member of the Riverland Afghan community.”

The court heard Rajabi gave his brother, who had significant gambling issues, money and got him a job but it still wasn’t enough.

Mr Healy told the court Rajabi was suffering from depression and was “emotionally exhausted” at the time of the offending.

Justice Hughes said while she accepted Rajabi was remorseful for his offending, his actions could have been fatal.

“However frustrating you found it that your brother was unable to manage his life and contributed to lean on you for support, it was totally unacceptable for you to inflict such injuries upon him when you were under no threat,” she said.

Justice Hughes sentenced Rajabi to five years and three months, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

The sentence was backdated to November 9, 2020.

Rajabi said the sentence was a “bit harsh” but he accepted the decision.

“I understand that it is very difficult for you and your family,” Justice Hughes said.

“I trust that the nine months (remaining non-parole period) will pass quickly and you will be reunited after that.”