Zane Sonter pleads guilty to domestic violence assault of brother

A 22-year-old man has found himself on the wrong side of the law after choking his brother until he nearly passed, and only letting go when his brother grabbed him by the testicles.

Zane Sonter, 22, became involved in an argument with his older brother over the smoking started, Gympie District Court heard. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, and was sentenced to 18 months' probation.

A Greens Creek man has avoided time behind bars after a family fight over smoking on the back deck of his parents’ home turned violent on Christmas Eve.

Zane Sonter, 22, was at home with his older brother when they got into an argument over his smoking on the morning of December 24, 2022, Gympie District Court heard.

Sonter went to the bathroom, at which point his brother “repeatedly” mocked him over his social skills and called him a “retard”.

The court heard Sonter “snapped” and charged at his sibling.

Sonter’s brother tried to protect himself with a wooden chair but the 22-year-old ripped it away and threw it to the ground.

He then moved behind his brother, grabbed him around the neck, locked his hands together and started squeezing.

Zane Sonter, 22, got into a fight with his older brother on Christmas eve, and was put on 18 months’ probation for assault occasioning bodily harm.

The court heard Sonter told his brother he “wanted to show him death”.

Sonter’s brother did not fight back and started feeling “hazy and dizzy”.

He finally grabbed Sonter’s testicles to make him let go.

The brother then drove away and, unable to stop coughing and tasting “blood and metal”, called 000.

He was later treated for mild bruising and swelling to the right side of his neck, the court heard.

Sonter had scratches around his own neck from the fight.

During the police interview Sonter said he did not want to kill his brother but “did want him unconscious” and told police he had “severe” anger issues.

The court heard there was no evidence of any drug use by Sonter, and he came from a loving home.

He had no criminal history.

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Zane Sonter’s mother watched from the Gympie District Court public gallery as he was sentenced to probation after injuring his brother in a fight on Christmas Eve, 2022. Photo Patrick Woods / Gympie Times

Sonter’s mother supported the 22-year-old during his sentencing, and wrote a letter to the court saying the offending was “out of character” and his brother had been “antagonising” him in the lead-up.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren said his actions had put her in a “terrible, terrible situation”.

“The next time you go to do something just remember you won’t only be letting yourself down, you’ll be breaking her heart”.

She held concerns as to what steps he was taking to ensure this did not happen again.

“It’s one thing to recognise you have anger management issues, it’s another to address them.

“There’s nothing before me to indicate you have addressed them.”

Sonter pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, a domestic violence offence.

Judge Rosengren placed him on probation for 18 months, and included a condition he attend anger management counselling.

No conviction was recorded.