Wallaga Lake’s Jeramiah Mason granted bail after allegedly attacking victim with axe

The alleged victim of an axe attack during what has been described as a “family dispute” was taken to hospital after the weapon hit brain tissue.

Jeramiah Mason appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court via video link from the Parklea Correctional Centre. Picture: Tom McGann.

A Bega Valley Shire man was granted bail after allegedly attacking a victim with an axe, hitting their head and reaching brain tissue.

Jeramiah Mason faced Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday after being charged with wounding a person with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault and affray. No official pleas have been entered.

The 18-year-old successfully received bail after appearing in court via video link from the Parklea Correctional Centre.

Magistrate Doug Dick granted bail after examining police documents stating the extent and details of the recent incident which occurred in Kianga.

Described as a “family dispute” by police documents, Mason allegedly attacked the victim with an axe, hitting their head hard enough to reach brain tissue.

The complainant has since left Canberra hospital.

However, according to the defendant’s lawyer, Adam Sumbak, there was not enough hard evidence that Mason was the person responsible for the violent assault.

“We’re no doubt dealing here with a very serious offence, but we are dealing with a very young man,” he said.

“He has a very limited record.

“There were lots of people there, he was just the one holding the axe.”

The multiple co-accused in this matter who were also found at the scene of the incident will be attending Narooma Local Court on January 12.

Mr Sumbak said Mason is actively working hard to turn his life around, having laboured for his uncle, completing cultural site work and recently completing a fire fighting course.

Asking Mason how his experience in the correctional centre has been, Mr Sumbak said he “wasn’t able to answer, he was in tears”.

Bail was granted under the conditions Mason lives at his uncle’s property in Wallaga Lake, not leave the premises between 8.00pm and 8.00am, present to police when asked to, not go to Kianga and not contact, attempt to contact or go near any witness of the incident or the victim.

Mason will return to Batemans Bay Local Court on March 6.