Alfredo Amper-Hunter pleads guilty to carrying an offensive weapon and damaging a car

A magistrate has suspended a jail term for a man who was provoked into a fight before unleashing his partner’s samurai sword and damaging a car.

The defence counsel of a man who produced a samurai sword after a verbal altercation, says his client was also a victim.

Alfredo Amper-Hunter, 45, pleaded guilty to carrying an offensive weapon and damaging a car in the Christies Beach Magistrate court on Tuesday.

The court heard on March 16, 2022, Amper-Hunter attended a home after seeing a man and woman he once knew walking on the footpath, taunting him to fight.

“The man ran onto the road and booted the left panel of his (Amper-Hunter) car, causing a dent,” Amper-Hunter defence counsel said.

Alfredo Amper-Hunter outside the Christies Beach Magistrate court.

The court heard Amper-Hunter drove home where he grabbed his partner’s ornamental samurai sword which had been on display.

“He took it back as a weapon, confronted him and lashed out,” defence counsel said.

“An hour later the man showed up at Mr Amper-Hunter’s address before running him over with a car, resulting in him suffering burn marks and lacerations.”

Police prosecutor Sophie Wilson, made submissions Amper-Hunter had yelled at the victims as he drove past.

“A dark car had driven past, performed a U-turn and pulled up behind the victims before the defendant shouted “dog c**ts” at them,” police prosecutor Sophie Wilson told the court.

Another friend who was inside her home came outside and the sound of an altercation to find her male friend with a “cut above his eye” and a “50cm gash” in her car bonnet.

“One witness states the defendant held the samurai sword with both hands and was swinging it about in a threatening manner,” police prosecutor Sophie Wilson told the court.

The court heard Amper-Hunter deliberately hit the bonnet with the sword, still yelling before speeding off.

In her sentencing, Magistrate Briony Kennewell, acknowledged Amper-Hunter may have come off second best physically, but still found himself in a dangerous situation.

“Introducing a sword into a fight is incredibly dangerous and it’s fortunate no one was seriously injured,” she said.

Amper-Hunter’s previous history dates back to 2005 where he was convicted for serious criminal trespass and property damage, sentenced to 20 months, suspended.

Amper-Hunter was sentenced to one month and 21 days imprisonment, suspended upon Amper-Hunter entering a 12 month good behaviour bond.

$800 compensation was also sought for the damaged bonnet and the samurai sword forfeited.