Stephen Harry Goebel faces Warwick District Court for assaulting a real estate agent

A Stanthorpe farmer has ended up in court following him luring a man to his property and snapping his bone during what the farmer thought was a ‘consensual fight.’

A Stanthorpe farmer has ended up in front of a judge after causing a man permanent pain and injury after an assault at his Granite Belt property.

Stephen Harry Goebel, 67, appeared in Warwick District Court on February 6 following an altercation which left a man with trauma and a limp.

The court was told Goebel had summoned a real estate agent to his property on July 15, 2022, following a dispute which saw Goebel’s property management rights dissolved.

The real estate agent had arrived at Goebel’s property in the afternoon, after Goebel called him and asked to meet, Crown prosecutor Sam Rigby said.

Goebel said they could “box it out” as he had believed there would be a “consensual fight” to sort over the dispute.

The man approached Goebel, who was wielding an axe handle, before telling him “what are you going to do, hit me? Well go on and do it then,” causing the farmer to raise the axe handle above his head with both hands.

The father of two swung the axe handle down onto the man’s thigh, striking with such force it fractured the man’s femur.

The victim required a pin in his leg, and surgery to close the fracture, after being flown to Toowoomba Hospital.

The Crown described the offending as a “cowardly act” as the victim in the matter was unarmed at the time, and there was significant issues for the victim after offending, including a permanent limp, nerve damage and trauma.

Goebel’s defence barrister, Stephen Kissick, said the man’s offending was “out of character” and noted the man’s remorsefulness through wanting to pay restitution.

Judge Nathan Jarro agreed in the summing up of the facts that Goebel just “wanted to scare the man” and acknowledged the man’s remorsefulness for the offending.

“There might have been a loss of self control but you must bare the consequences for the significant injuries you inflicted,” Judge Jarro said.

“It was traumatic for the victim who had no idea what you were capable of, he now has a permanent limp, nerve damage and is restricted in what he does now.”

Goebel pleaded guilty to one charge of grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to two years imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years. Convictions were recorded.