James Patrick Humphreys pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to aggravated dangerous driving

A 69-year-old man rammed into his nephew in a head-on collision near Injune after ‘tensions boiled over’ amid an ongoing family feud.

A 69-year-old Eumamurrin man has faced court after ramming his nephew’s car after an ongoing family feud escalated into violence.

James Patrick Humphreys pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to aggravated dangerous driving, as the defendant and victim were known to each other.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said in December 2022 police responded to reports of a two-vehicle collision at Eumamurrin, near Injune.

The court was told a Toyota LandCruiser driven by the defendant, who is the uncle of the victim, “rammed” into the front of the victim’s ute on Humphreys Rd.

A witness to the incident said he was slowly driving down Humphreys Rd, because he was carrying items in the rear of his vehicle, when he pulled over to let the victim’s ute pass from behind him.

However the victim stopped his ute alongside the witness’ vehicle to speak with him, at which point his car was positioned in the centre of the gravel road.

Mr Donnelly said Humphreys was driving along the same road when he spotted his nephew’s car in the middle of the road and drove directly towards it, coming to a halt just in front of it.

“He began verbally abusing him before ramming the front of his vehicle and driving away,” Mr Donnelly said.

“He yelled to the effect of ‘get the f--k off the road’.

“The defendant has then accelerated towards the victim’s vehicle while still yelling abuse, resulting in a significant impact. He then reversed backwards while continuing his abuse.

“The witness said he called out to the defendant that there was plenty of room for him to have driven around; however the defendant has then driven around the victim’s vehicle and departed the scene.”

The witness said there was “significant” damage to the victim’s vehicle, with the vehicle’s bull bar pushed back several centimetres and back onto the side panels of the vehicle.

A short time later police attended the defendant’s address, with the court told he refused to be interviewed in relation to the incident.

Police inspected the victim’s vehicle and confirmed two of the bull bar’s bolts had been sheared off from the impact, as well as considerable damage to the bonnet and front quarter panels of the vehicle.

Humphreys voluntarily attended the police station and was issued a notice to appear in Roma Magistrates Court.

“Because it was a familial incident, other actions were taken in a different jurisdiction (civil court),” Mr Donnelly said.

“Compensation is not sought in relation to this matter.”

Defence lawyer Eleanor Meany said her client’s offending was completely “out of character” and he comes to the court with no criminal history.

“I’m instructed there has been a family dispute that has been going on for many many years,” Ms Meany said.

“Tensions ultimately boiled over on this day. It was a lapse in judgement and he is extremely remorseful and embarrassed he’s found himself in this position.”

Acting magistrate Michael Bice said he’s taken into account the defendant’s lack of criminal history and limited traffic history, as well as the long running family dispute.

“Given your age I thought you’d be someone who could control yourself,” the magistrate said.

“Be careful you don’t put yourself in this situation again.”

Humphreys was fined $600 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for six months.

A conviction was recorded.