Bayside Uber driver, Andrew James Purvis, admits in court his plans to kill own family

A bayside Uber driver has faced court after assaulting his elderly mother and cancer-stricken brother and admitting to planning seven chilling ways to kill them.

Cleveland Courthouse. Pic: Claudia Baxter

A bayside Uber driver has admitted to planning seven ways to kill his elderly mother and brother after assaulting them in a “jealous rage”.

Thornlands resident, Andrew James Purvis, 46, pleaded guilty in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 1, to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, one count of serious assault of a person over the age of 60 and one count of threatening violence.

The court heard Purvis came back from a walk to a Thornlands address on October 17, overhearing his elderly mother and brother talking about him.

“He (Purvis) overheard them talking about him and his mental health,” the police prosecutor said.

“He picked up a metal drink container striking him in the chest, before he flung the victim to the ground and kicked him to the side of the head twice.

“His mother screamed ‘get off him or he’ll die’.

“He replied: ‘I want to kill him quicker’.

“He’s then pushed his mother in the chest, he’s pushed her hard enough that she fell into a chair and fell backwards.

“He then screamed, ‘I’ll burn the house down and kill you’.”

The court heard Purvis told both police and mental health authorities that he was going to go back and burn down the house.

“He even called the police and said that he would set fire to it,” the police prosecutor said.

When asked by police about the assault, Purvis said he had planned to kill his family, the court heard.

“He stated he had nothing to live for and he had seven ways planned to kill them,” she said.

“He’s planned seven ways that he could do it.”

The court heard his mother had suffered a stroke two weeks before the assault and his brother was battling cancer.

Purvis’s lawyer, Sarah Churches-Kennedy, said her client suffered from mental and physical issues.

“He did instruct me that he had struggled with cannabis use,” Ms Churches-Kennedy said.

“He also suffers from depression, Bell’s palsy and he’s also diabetic.”

Ms Churches-Kennedy said her client had been having family issues at the time.

“There may be some jealousy in it,” she said.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said she was concerned by the lack of regret Purvis had for his actions.

“Most people when you’re sitting in a police station hours later pull their heads in and show some remorse,” Ms Vasta said.

“Your behaviour was monstrous.

“You behaved in an absolutely disgusting way to your mother and brother.”

Purvis said he learnt how to be ‘a human being again’ after spending 45 days in pre-sentence custody.

“In those early days I looked like an out of control fool and I understand why you had concerns there, you’ve got the community to think about,” he said.

“I’ve got to live with what I’ve done for the rest of my life.

“And my mum will never ever, ever let me live that down.

“I’ve done all the crying I can do, crying doesn’t do anything.

“Keep your bloody hands to yourself, they’re the two things I’ve learnt.”

Purvis was sentenced to 45 days’ jail which was declared as time served and sentenced to two years’ probation.

He was given immediate parole release.

Convictions were recorded.