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Benjamin Thomas Nesbitt, Robert John Baker and Mark John Mumford charged after violent attack on Pooraka neighbour

Three men have faced court after allegedly breaking into their neighbour’s Pooraka home, stabbing a man and threatening to kill his partner and child.

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A Pooraka man has faced court alongside his two best mates after a noise complaint allegedly prompted them to break into a neighbours home, stab the residents and threaten to murder their child.

On Friday morning, Benjamin Thomas Nesbitt, Robert John Baker and Mark John Mumford faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with aggravated causing harm with intent, serious criminal trespass and theft.

At about 1.23am on Thursday morning, SA Police were called to a unit block on South Terrace in Pooraka where they found a man with knife injuries to his arms.

Prosecutors allege the incident occurred when the trio, armed with knives, busted into Mr Nesbitt’s neighbour’s home after he’d received complaints about his music.

Benjamin Thomas Nesbitt faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court after allegedly attacking his neighbour. Picture: Facebook
Benjamin Thomas Nesbitt faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court after allegedly attacking his neighbour. Picture: Facebook
Prosecutors allege he first threatened his neighbour with a baseball bat. Pictures: Facebook
Prosecutors allege he first threatened his neighbour with a baseball bat. Pictures: Facebook

“The victims in this matter live next-door to Mr Nesbitt. (The 24-year-old woman) is currently 12 weeks pregnant and they have a 2 year old son,” a prosecutor told the court.

“At about 11.30pm on Wednesday, (the man) asked the neighbours if they could turn down their music, and (the woman) heard someone say to come out the front.

“(The man) then went outside and saw their neighbour, Mr Nesbitt, holding a baseball bat. They met each other in the middle of the street and engaged in a fight, but stopped when Mr Nesbitt’s child appeared from his unit.

“The woman then heard Mr Nesbitt’s partner making a phone call saying words to the effect of ‘get all your mates around here,’ but the victims returned to their unit.

In his witness statement, the man told police Mr Nesbitt had yelled at him: “now you’ve done it, c***. I’m going to get my mates to sort you out.”

“Around 20 minutes later, (the woman) heard their living room window being smashed and could see several males breaking down her front door,” a prosecutor said.

The three were arrested after the alleged incident. Picture: 7NEWS
The three were arrested after the alleged incident. Picture: 7NEWS
Mark John Mumford faced court alongside his two friends. Pictures: Facebook
Mark John Mumford faced court alongside his two friends. Pictures: Facebook

The court heard she then called police, but the men forced their way through the wooden door and cornered the two in a bedroom.

“Male 1 used a knife to slash both of (the man’s) arms. It was a pocket knife with a curved blade. A second male pushed the woman into the corner and threatened to kill her if she called the police.

“A third held a steak knife against (the woman’s) throat, making similar threats to the second man, before he ran the blade across her cheeks stating ‘that‘s your boyfriend’s blood on your face’.”

Prosecutors said one man told the woman they would “come back and kill her son” if she called police.

“One male told the woman that ‘if police arrest them they will organise for people to come back and kill them as soon as they’re out of custody’.

On the way out, another man allegedly stole a Play Station 4, a Nintendo Switch and a bluetooth speaker.

In her witness statement, the woman said she noticed that a table had been thrown through the back of her car, and that she believed one of the men had done it, shattering her rear windscreen.

The court heard that after police attended Mr Nesbitt’s property, the three were located and taken into custody.

The man was taken to hospital with stab wounds. Picture: 7NEWS
The man was taken to hospital with stab wounds. Picture: 7NEWS

Clothes alleged to have been worn by the trio during the altercation were in the washing machine, and the alleged victim’s electronic devices were also found in the home.

The man was taken to the Lyell McEwin Hospital in an ambulance after the alleged incident.

Prosecutors told the court they were opposed to all forms of bail for the men due to the seriousness of the alleged offending.

“Our position is based on the seriousness of offending, the need to protect the community and obviously, specifically, the need to protect the victims in this matter,” they said.

“One of the victims is 12 weeks pregnant and obviously extremely vulnerable. This would have been a terrifying experience, and there were those comments that were allegedly made regarding essentially coming back to finish the job if these people were released from custody.”

Mr Nesbitt’s lawyer told the court her client had no prior criminal convictions, and was a young father.

Lawyers for all three men said they planned to contest allegations against them.

Magistrate Justin Wickens refused the three men bail and remanded them in custody to face court again in January.

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/north-northeast/benjamin-thomas-nesbitt-robert-john-baker-and-mark-john-mumford-charged-after-violent-attack-on-pooraka-neighbour/news-story/2ee02f76a3824020582ce10de14bf603