Colin John Mitchell jailed after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm in Toowoomba District Court

A St George man attacked his cousin so viciously the victim required plates and four metal screws to hold his head together, a court has been told.

An argument between cousins escalated into an assault so violent man suffered a caved in skull that required four metal screws, a court has been told.

Colin John Mitchell pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm in Toowoomba District Court on Thursday.

The court was told that on February 13 this year Mitchell was at his cousin’s house in Cunnamulla when at about midday the pair got into an argument, and Mitchell was told to leave.

Crown prosecutor Shontelle Petrie said Mitchell, 26, retaliated with violence, punching his cousin before kneeing him in the head.

“He has grabbed his cousin around the head and when his cousin has lost balance he has pulled his cousin towards him and he has kneed him in the head, and that’s what has caused the grievous bodily harm,” Ms Petrie said.

As a result the victim suffered a depressed skull fracture, and two days later was flown to Toowoomba Hospital where he had metal plates and four screws inserted in his head and suffered serious disfigurement caused by the assault.

The court was told Mitchell had been in custody since March 12, 2021 when he was extradited from NSW after fleeing the state following the assault on his cousin.

Ms Shontelle said violent offending was a pattern throughout Mitchell’s history and included domestic violence offences.

“There are echoes of this violence throughout Mr Mitchell’s history,” Ms Petrie said.

Mitchell’s barrister Phil Hardcastle said his client was a father of two, and was expecting his third child in December.

Mr Hardcastle said Mitchell intended to return to live in St George upon his release and had work in the cotton industry lined up by his grandfather. The court was told Mitchell was also supported by his grandmother, who raised him after he was estranged from his biological parents at a young age.

“The best submission I can make is that this wasn’t a protracted attack,” Mr Hardcastle said.

Chief Judge Brian Devereaux had a pointed message to the man he first convicted nine years ago.

“I hope that soon you get sick of having to come to court because of your violence and grow up,” he said.

“What people want to see, what your grandmother would like to see, is you to grow up to become a responsible man who has respect in the community. You’re entirely capable of that.”

Judge Devereaux said Mitchell’s early plea of guilty was an indication that he accepted responsibility for the serious offence, and that he was remorseful for his actions.

Mitchell was convicted and sentenced to a two year, six month jail term, with a non parole period of 10 months. With time served he will be eligible for release on January 11, 2022.

Originally published as Colin John Mitchell jailed after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm in Toowoomba District Court