Oscar Mairs: Waverley man storms lawyer David Deutsch’s home

An eastern suburbs businessman, who a court heard believed he had been wronged by his ex-girlfriend and cops were after him – stormed the home of Eddie Obeid’s former lawyer with a fake gun in an act of “vigilante justice”.

A successful eastern suburbs businessman who a court heard believed he had been wronged by his ex-girlfriend stormed the home of Eddie Obeid’s former lawyer in an act of “vigilante justice”.

Oscar Mairs, of Waverley, appeared at Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday for sentencing after pleading guilty to entering the home of David Deutsch, Obeid’s one-time lawyer, while in possession of a dangerous weapon.

The court heard the strange series of events was triggered by a relationship breakdown between Mairs and his partner.

Mairs hired Peter Bowman as his solicitor and his ex-girlfriend acquired the services of Mr Deutsch.

However, the court was told Mairs came to hold the belief Mr Deutsch and Mr Bowman were colluding.

Mairs gave evidence to the court in which he claimed Mr Bowman relayed threats from both his ex-girlfriend and Mr Deutsch, including one by Mr Deutsch to use the organised crime squad Strike Force Raptor against him.

David Deutsch (pictured) was the victim of an aggravated home entrance on July 21, 2020.

After snorting cocaine on July 21, 2020, Mairs decided to take justice into his own hands and “drop into” Mr Deutsch’s house on the way home.

With a fake gun and children present in the home, the Waverley man proceeded to threaten Mr Deutsch.

“We know you’ve got money … you’re going to pay (me) money and you’re going to be disbarred,” Mairs told the court.

Mairs has pleaded guilty to his crime. Picture: Nikki Short

The prosecutor Daniel Noll described Mairs as a man who used “vigilante justice” and took “the law into (his) own hands”.

“At the end of the day, David Deutsch was a solicitor,” Mr Noll said.

“There is no evidence, even on the balance of probabilities, that David Deutsch and Bowman were colluding in any way,” he added.

Defence barrister, Mr Mark Tedeschi QC, described his client’s actions as “an incredibly stupid decision” but said the threats Mairs had been facing, while not an excuse, were “the trigger” which led him to enter Mr Deutsch’s home.

The court also heard how Mairs is on the autism spectrum and finds it difficult to read people and situations.

Judge Kate Traill described Mair’s actions as “vigilantism”, but said “there is no other indication that he would be a danger to the community.”

The sentence will be handed down next month.