Steven Walter Brown fails in conviction appeal after road rage stabbing

A man who followed a young woman onto her parents property in a road rage incident then stabbed her father in a fight the next day had his conviction appeal dismissed. Here’s the details.

Lismore Courthouse

A Lismore man who claimed self defence after following a Bexhill woman onto her property calling her a “silly b--ch” in a road rage incident then stabbing her father during a punch-on the next day has had his conviction appeal dismissed.

Steven Walter Brown, 54, represented himself before Judge Jonathan Priestley in Lismore District Court on Wednesday.

Brown was convicted on September 27 last year of stalking and intimidation with the intention to cause fear, recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, and reckless wounding.

He was sentenced to a 12 month intensive community corrections order, requiring him to serve 100 hours of community service work.

Steven Walter Brown’s (front) conviction appeal was dismissed at Lismore Local Court.

Between 5pm and 7pm at Bexhill on March 15, 2022, Brown said he was “so disturbed” by Georgia Wise who “should have pulled to the left before turning right across two lanes of traffic” that he followed her off Lismore-Bangalow Rd on to her private driveway.

Brown said: “It was an egregious breach of the road code and against common sense”.

He said he wanted to confront the young driver to “better educate” her on how she should conduct herself when using the road.

Brown told the court his language to Ms Wise was “confrontational” but he did not intend for her to fear physical and mental harm.

He told police he “wasn’t mindful” he was on private land and “didn’t think of the consequences of his actions”.

Ms Wise told police Brown honked his horn at her as she had stopped before turning off at her house.

She said he followed her 50m downhill and when she asked if he needed anything Brown said: “you’re going to jail bitch”.

Police facts state Brown then said: “Oh you’re a f —king b--ch, you’re a f —king cow” when Ms Wise said she would get her father. Brown returned to his car and left the scene.

“Egregious breach of all the road code and against common sense”: Road rager fails to win conviction appeal.

The court heard the following day, Ms Wise’s brother Andrew Wise saw Brown’s car in Clunes. He told his father, Keith Wise, and the men followed Brown for 20km.

Brown saw the men tailing him and pulled into a neighbour’s driveway fearing a confrontation.

According to the court documents the elder Mr Wise approached and shoved Brown in the chest before the men exchanged blows and began wrestling on the ground. Neither Andrew Wise nor Keith Wise were charged with any wrongdoing.

Andrew Wise saw his father on top of Brown who was screaming out “help me” and heard his father trying to calm Brown down.

“Stop hitting me and I’ll let you go,” Mr Wise allegedly told Brown.

Brown told police he pulled the knife because Mr Wise had pinned him on the ground and was “on top of me punching me”.

Brown said he was “in fear of his life” and stabbed Mr Wise several times before escaping.

A neighbour called triple-0 while Brown allegedly hid from police when they arrived. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Judge Priestley rejected Brown’s versions of events and said his voice was raised and offensive words were spoken to Georgia Wise.

“It’s plain he was displeased with her and wished to admonish her as a result,” Mr Priestley said.

“To this end he turns off a road, enters private land, and speaks offensively at loud volume.”

Mr Priestley said it was equally plain Brown intended to harass the person he was abusing.

He said the fight was able to be resolved without the use of a knife.

The Judge dismissed the appeal upholding all convictions except reckless wounding, which was lifted under a section 10A with no penalty imposed.