Ivan Deak, 62, sentenced over savage bashing of dad in Lethbridge

A man who drunkenly bashed his elderly father, who died of a stroke soon after, could walk free within days.

Ivan Deak grew up on an isolated property on Burrows Rd in Lethbridge, where his abusive father lorded over the family.

A man who drunkenly bashed his elderly father, who died of a stroke soon after, could walk free within days.

Ivan Deak, 62, appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court on Wednesday, having earlier pleaded guilty to a single charge of intentionally causing serious injury after bashing his father, Ivan Deak Sr, in Lethbridge on August 6, 2022.

Mr Deak Sr died in hospital from a stroke days later.

Justice John Champion sentenced Deak to four years jail, setting a non-parole period of two years and two months.

The Glenpatrick man has spent 798 days behind bars, meaning he is immediately eligible for parole.

In his sentencing remarks, Justice Champion accepted the bashing took place in “unusual and highly emotional circumstances” and was out of character for Deak.

In his sentencing remarks, Justice Champion outlined the circumstances that led to the savage bashing.

The court heard Deak’s mother suffered a stroke in July 2022 and, after spending three weeks in hospital, was transferred to an aged care home in Bell Park.

Mr Deak Sr struggled with the change, continuing to be aggressive and leading one of Deak’s sisters to twice call triple-0 in the days before the attack.

Deak’s mother died on August 6, 2022, and that day he joined his brother and father at his childhood home in Lethbridge.

The two brothers spent the afternoon drinking, and at about 8pm, Deak stood up and started yelling at his father, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and accusing him of killing his mother.

Mr Deak Sr yelled back, and got up, heading towards the laundry, where Deak attacked him, hitting him multiple times with his fists.

Mr Deak Sr was able to walk away and go to bed, where emergency services found him covered in a “large amount” of blood.

He suffered extensive bruising across his body and facial fractures, however the prosecution did not argue the bashing caused the fatal stroke which he suffered in hospital days later.

Deak suffered a small cut to his forehead and abrasions on his knuckles.

Deak was originally charged with murder, then manslaughter, and in July, Deak’s offer to plead to intentionally causing serious injury was accepted.

The court was told of Deak’s violent and abusive upbringing at the hands of his father, and that an “atmosphere of fear” had hung over the family at times.

Mr Deak Sr was diagnosed with dementia in 2019, but stymied the family’s attempts to arrange treatment.

Justice Champion found the injuries were in the lower range of serious injury, although Mr Deak Sr’s advanced age and frailty were aggravating.

The court heard Deak still had the support of much of his family, and eight character references had been submitted on his behalf.

Deak’s actions were “totally unacceptable” Justice Champion said, and Deak did not appear to show remorse, but his moral culpability was lessened and his prospects of rehabilitation were good.

Originally published as Ivan Deak, 62, sentenced over savage bashing of dad in Lethbridge