Jonathon Carbis pleads guilty to vicious driveway assault

A magistrate has slammed a man who bashed his nephew in a driveway in front of family members, including children.

Geelong Magistrates Court

A magistrate has slammed the actions of a man who bashed his nephew in a driveway in front of family members, including children, as “absolutely unforgivable”.

Jonathon Carbis, 37, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a single charge of unlawful assault.

A “more serious” charge was withdrawn by the prosecution.

The court heard that on May 29 this year, Carbis and his father were leaving a laundromat on La Trobe Tce, when a car driven by Carbis’ nephew drove past.

Carbis and his father believed the car swerved at them, and Carbis briefly chased the car shouting: “You’re a dog, you’re a junkie” at the driver.

Carbis’ defence lawyer told the court that Carbis was enraged when his father, who had recently been released from hospital after surgery, was forced to take “evasive action” to avoid being hit.

Later that day, the victim arrived at his home in Norlane and Carbis arrived shortly afterwards.

Carbis was in an “agitated state” the court heard, and ran at the victim in his driveway.

Carbis yelled “f--- you, you dog” before punching the victim in the mouth, followed by another punch to the right side of the victim’s jaw.

After being punched in the head a third time, the victim threw himself to the ground and covered himself, as Carbis stomped on his head.

The vicious assault was witnessed by multiple family members, the court heard, including the victim’s father, partner and four children.

Carbis attended Corio police station that evening, and told police he went to the victim’s address to confront him but denied further punches and stomping.

He told police he did not want to injure him, but “wanted to rough him up”.

Carbis’ lawyer told the court his client had pleaded guilty at an early stage, and that the altercation followed a number of incidents, including one where the victim appeared uninvited at Carbis’ home, where he lives with his father.

Carbis’ father further outlined the context a letter to the court that was not read out.

The court heard Carbis believed his nephew’s behaviour was “deteriorating” and he had been “behaving like a gangster”.

Carbis disagreed with portions of the police summary, his lawyer said, but magistrate John Lesser dismissed the concerns said Carbis could have fought the charges at a hearing.

“I accept he may have a different version, but he could have tested it out if that’s what he wanted to do,” Mr Lesser said.

“I accept there may be a lot of acrimony between the family, but we can’t allow people running around taking things into their own hands.”

Carbis was convicted and fined $1200, but Mr Lesser noted the fine was reduced “considerably” in light of the circumstances outlined in Carbis’ father’s latter.

“This needs to be the end of that situation,” Mr Lesser told Carbis.

Originally published as Jonathon Carbis pleads guilty to vicious driveway assault