Johnathon Mitchell accused of savage assault and alleged carjacking with co-accused

A Mildura man and his co-accused allegedly attacked a man, leaving him with life-threatening injuries, before being linked to an armed carjacking days later, a court has heard.

Mildura man Johnathon Mitchell allegedly took part in the bashing of a man with a co-accused and taking part in a violent carjacking just days later. Picture: Facebook

An unemployed Mildura man with a rampant meth habit was allegedly involved in a brutal attack that saw another man stabbed leaving him with a collapsed lung, a court has heard.

Johnathon Mitchell, 33, fronted Mildura Magistrates’ Court seeking bail on assault and carjacking charges.

Police claimed Mr Mitchell and his girlfriend attacked a man on a Mildura street that left the alleged victim with a puncture wound and a punctured lung.

It was claimed Mr Mitchell repeatedly punched the alleged victim outside a Hawthorn Grove address before his co-accused stabbed the man in the back with a small knife.

The alleged victim managed to flee but was purportedly struck in the head with a baton by the co-accused.

The court heard Mr Mitchell later threatened the alleged victim, saying: “You f---ing dog, I’ll get you,” before warning, “If you call the cops, I’ll come back and finish the job.”

Mildura man Johnathon Mitchell strenuously denied any use of a firearm in the alleged carjacking. Picture: Facebook

Just three days later, Mr Mitchell and his co-accused were allegedly involved in an aggravated carjacking at a separate Mildura address.

Police claimed a firearm, that was yet to be found, was used in the carjacking, though Mr Mitchell denied the allegation during his bail application.

“There’s no firearm, I don’t understand,” Mr Mitchell said during his bail application.

A witness claimed they saw Mr Mitchell driving the vehicle at the intersection of Thirteenth St and Etiwanda Ave.

Following the carjacking, it was alleged Mr Mitchell told another person, via Facebook Messenger, he was going to return to the Hawthorn Grove address to, “f--- s--- up.”

The vehicle was later discovered by NSW police in bushland near the defunct Buronga caravan park.

Police allege they found two .22 calibre rounds, along with cannabis and methamphetamine.

Police argued against Mr Mitchell getting bail, with the informant pointing out the seriousness of the injuries sustained by the alleged victim.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan conceded that exceptional circumstances were made by Mr Mitchell’s lawyer, but felt the risk to the public could not be ameliorated. Picture: Generic

“If the (alleged) victim did not receive medical attention right away, he would have died,” Detective Senior Constable Shaun Godfrey told the court.

The court also heard concerns about Mr Mitchell’s escalating drug use

In denying bail, Magistrate Michael Coghlan said:

“I am not persuaded that bail conditions … are sufficient to satisfy me that the risk to the public has been reduced to an acceptable level,” Mr Coghlan said.

Mr Mitchell’s next appearance is slated for early 2025.