David Turnbull, 28, immediately released on bail as he appeals on jail sentence for stabbing mate in the throat

An “evil” drunk who stabbed his mate in the throat because he turned up the volume on the radio during a night out in Bendigo has been jailed only to walk free two hours later on appeal bail.

David Turnbull outside Bendigo Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to stabbing his mate in the neck because he turned up the volume on the radio in a taxi

An apprentice chippie has been jailed for stabbing a young Bendigo dad in the neck because he turned up the volume on the radio in a taxi during a night out - but was almost immediately released back on bail as he appeals the sentence.

David Turnbull was sentenced at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to six months’ jail.

The court heard Turnbull, the victim and several others were enjoying a night out on the town in Bendigo on September 3, 2023.

While they were in a taxi driving to another location, an argument started between Turnbull and the victim because he turned the volume up on the radio.

Turnbull smacked the 28-year-old victim in the face, and a fight started as they were kicked out of the taxi at the Shell service station on High St, Golden Square.

They went their separate ways, with Turnbull walking back to an address on Marong Rd, Ironbark.

David Turnbull was jailed for six months after stabbing his mate of six years in the neck because he turned the volume up on a radio in a taxi.

When the rest of the group arrived at that address, Turnbull was described by a witness as “powerwalking down the driveway” knife in hand.

He told the victim to “get the f--k out” of the taxi, dragging him out and assaulting him.

Turnbull and the victim had been friends for nearly six years when he plunged a pocket knife into his mate’s neck.

Witnesses tried to stop the bleeding as they rushed to get him into a car and take him to the hospital, but he “slumped” onto the nature strip unconscious.

The victim told the court he had “never been so scared” was “terrified he was going to die” and never see his 10-month-old son again.

“He could have grown up without a dad,” the victim said.

The victim needed “complex surgery” with “life changing” consequences, leaving him with a stent in his neck and needing life long medical procedures.

The court heard Turnbull had a criminal history of violence and a tendency to be aggressive when drinking, with his ex-partner telling the court “a dark side of him comes out” and Turnbull “becomes evil” when he drinks.

David Turnbull appealed his jail sentence after stabbing his mate in the neck.

The court heard Turnbull has undertaken “extensive rehabilitation” since the offending and had shown “genuine remorse” – offering to pay for plastic surgery for his victim.

With the support of his affluent family — who own and operate a “national” company — Turnbull’s lawyer told the court he had undertaken “extensive rehabilitation” since the offending, remained abstinent from alcohol, and almost finished a carpentry apprenticeship.

The defence had argued jailing him would “destroy the results of that rehabilitation”, asking he receive a sentence in the community – which wasn’t opposed by the prosecution.

But Magistrate Jarrod Williams said he needed to denounce violent knife crime and send a message to others.

Mr William’s said it was a “difficult sentencing exercise”, balancing the need to rehabilitate Turnbull with the seriousness of the crime.

Magistrate Jarrod Williams said it purely a “matter of luck” Turnbull hadn’t killed the victim and the law required a heavy penalty for knife related violence.

Turnbull was also sentenced to an 18 month community corrections order with 150 hours of community work hours to commence upon his release from prison.

However, within two hours of being locked up he was back out on bail after appealing his sentence.

He will face the County Court at a later date.