Dalby man sentenced in court following ‘vicious assault’ on twin brother with tyre iron

A father of four and repeat domestic violence offender who was found hiding at Myall Creek was berated in a Dalby court for attacking his twin brother with a tyre iron. See how it unfolded.

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A Dalby man who, according to a magistrate, could have “killed” his own brother after attacking him in the head with a tyre iron has been sentenced in court.

The father of four appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on March 28 after he committed a string of “violent” and “vicious” attacks on his own family member, and attempted to “control” the mother of his children by threatening acts of self-harm.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 51-year-old began arguing with his brother after arriving home from work on February 13, which led to the man punching his brother in the eye.

“When (the victim) approached his brother downstairs he attacked him again by throwing more punches,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“He picked up a metal jack handle and struck (the victim) in the head.”

The court was told the victim went upstairs and called the police before his brother fled the scene.

Police later located the man hiding at the Myall Creek under a bridge.

Sergeant Hutchins said one of the conditions on the man’s domestic violence order with his brother was to be under the alcohol limit of 0.05 while in his presence, however when police found the man he returned a reading of 0.133.

The court was told while hiding under the bridge, the man made multiple calls and sent messages to his ex-partner and the mother of his children who he has a “no contact” condition with, claiming he had self-harmed.

Sergeant Hutchins said the man had sent multiple threatening messages that included, “Say goodbye to the kids for me” and “Everybody can go f--k themselves”.

“It’s clear he has mental health issues and they need to be addressed,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client had been engaged with counselling while serving his second probation order for contravening a domestic violence offence.

“His brother was also engaged in the fight, it was definitely two sided,” she said.

Magistrate Kyna Morice replied, “I don’t think his brother had a tyre iron?”

Ms Molloy said there was no suggestion his brother also used a weapon during the fight and that the siblings were generally “supportive” and “loving” except for when alcohol was involved.

Ms Morice berated the man not only for the “vicious assault” on his brother which “could’ve killed him” but for attempting to manipulate his ex.

“It was an attempt to control another person into doing what you want them to do, while threatening to harm yourself,” she said.

The man pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening a domestic violence order.

He was sentenced to four months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months and his probation order was extended for seven months.