Geelong vigilante death likely to be referred to coroner for inquest

Fresh details have emerged in the death of a burglar in a vigilante confrontation at Ray’s Fish and Chip and Pizza shop in Corio, with the matter now expected to go to an inquest.

The death of Sheldon Broderick at a Geelong takeaway shop is now expected to go to an inquest. Picture: Alan Barber

Fresh details have emerged in the death of a burglar in a vigilante confrontation at Geelong.

Sheldon Broderick was scrambling out of Ray’s Fish and Chip and Pizza shop in Corio when he was struck by Jake Mouat in the early hours of June 20 last year.

A manslaughter prosecution of Mr Mouat was last month dropped and the matter is now expected to go to an inquest. Mr Mouat has always maintained he acted in self-defence.

The Sunday Herald Sun can now reveal Mr Mouat used a Gunn and Moore cricket bat to inflict a fatal blow to the skull of Mr Broderick, who was holding a knife, as he crawled through a broken window to escape Ray’s Fish and Chip and Pizza shop on Corangamite Drive.

Shortly before, the intruder had arrived at Ray’s on a scooter and used a steel pit grate to smash through plate glass at the front of the business.

The 48-year-old Mr Broderick then rifled through drawers inside the business but found nothing of value.

Sheldon Broderick died following an altercation with a ‘vigilante’ when he broke into a fish and chip shop in Corio. Picture: Supplied

He instead grabbed two charity donation tins from the counter which contained a total of $15.

Mr Broderick initially ran to a back door to attempt an escape but could not kick it open because it was locked from the outside.

He then returned to the front of the store and picked up a chair before throwing it at the window to enlarge the hole.

As he crawled through, Mr Broderick was holding a knife which he had snatched from a drawer in the shop and used it to threaten Mr Mouat.

But before the burglar could free himself, Mr Mouat brought down a heavy blow which smashed his skull.

Mr Mouat, who lived next door to Ray’s, headed to the shop after hearing the window being smashed.

He told his wife to call police and the shop’s owner before leaving.

It is believed Mr Mouat had previously been a victim of a break-in.

The window of the Corio Fish and Chip and Pizza shop was smashed. Picture: Alan Barber

He later told investigators his blow to Mr Broderick was an act of self-defence.

The Saturday Herald Sun revealed last month that the prosecution of Jake Mouat for the manslaughter of Mr Broderick had been abandoned.

It is likely the homicide squad’s brief of evidence over the death of Sheldon Broderick will be referred to the State Coroner.

That may provide the best chance for Mr Broderick’s family to get answers about the details of what happened in the Geelong suburb of Corio in the early hours of June 20 last year.

Mr Broderick’s daughter Schehera said she would welcome any coronial inquiry into the tragedy.

Schehera this month told the Herald Sun the family was disappointed the matter would not be heard by a jury at trial.

They believe Mr Mouat had other options on the night.

The Office of Public Prosecutions decided to withdraw the manslaughter charges because it assessed it would not have been possible to disprove Mr Mouat’s claim he acted in self-defence.

Originally published as Geelong vigilante death likely to be referred to coroner for inquest