Crane operator makes ‘mistake’ by king hitting neighbour for insult to wife

A simmering property dispute and “grossly derogatory insult” drove a father of three to make a violent “mistake”.

A man has pleaded guilty to assaulting his neighbour’s son.

A MAN who “king hit” his neighbour’s son over a “grossly derogatory insult” to his wife has avoided conviction.

Appearing at the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on October 31, Justin Mark Nicoletti, 41, pleaded guilty to assault after his charge was downgraded from assault occasioning bodily harm.

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The court heard Nicoletti was involved in a bitter property dispute with his neighbours while building a home for his family in Ocean View.

“They were constructing their dream property in the Glass House Mountains,” Nicoletti’s defence solicitor Ben Taylor said.

“Shortly after purchasing their block they discovered the boundary pegs had allegedly been moved by 180 metres.

“That process created a great deal of animosity between themselves and the neighbours.”

Disagreements came to a climax on September 17 last year when Nicoletti struck his neighbour’s eldest son after a “grossly derogatory insult” to his wife.

Mr Taylor provided three personal references for the crane operator and father of three which “gave independent evidence of his otherwise good character”.

Nicoletti’s last criminal history was unrelated and dated to 2008.

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Magistrate Trevor Morgan said Nicoletti, who had self-reported the incident to police, had made a mistake resorting to violence.

“His big mistake was king hitting this guy when the man was walking away,” Mr Morgan said.

Nicoletti was sentenced to a two year, $2000 good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded.