Roderick Smith admits to armed robbery charge after attacking an alleged drug dealer with a machete

A machete wielding Mildura man claimed he attacked an alleged drug dealer with a machete during an armed robbery to retrieve his cousin’s stolen phone.

Roderick Smith told the court he didn’t meant to cut his victim, instead he just wanted to slap him with the machete. Picture: Generic (iStock)

A Mildura man who stabbed an alleged drug dealer with a machete claims he was trying to get his cousin’s phone back before the incident turned violent, a court heard.

Roderick Smith pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of armed robbery in Koori County Court in Mildura on Monday.

The court heard that on November 7, 2023, Smith pulled a machete on a drug dealer and stabbed him after he believed they had stolen his cousin’s mobile phone.

“I never tried to deny anything. Whenever I have been there, there are always young girls there. Somebody brought my cousin around to his house,” Smith told the court.

“I didn’t mean to cut him, I was just trying to slap him with the machete.”

The court heard that Smith had struggled with drugs and alcohol since he was 15 and had been drinking when the incident occurred.

Roderick Smith pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery at Koori County Court in Mildura. Picture: Generic

“I was drunk. Not drunk, a little bit tipsy … I wanted to take his drugs too,” Smith said.

Smith also told the court of his struggles with illiteracy, and how it frustrated him sometimes.

The court also heard of Smith’s mental health struggles, and he was encouraged to engage with the NDIS by both family and representatives of the court.

“Don’t be ashamed of your mental health (struggles), everyone has to deal with them at one point or another,” First Nations Elder Mark Bland said.

Mr Bland commented on the amount of support Smith had in the courtroom as well.

“This is the biggest Mob we have seen here in a while,” Mr Bland said.

Smith’s sentencing was adjourned so his lawyer could obtain a psychological report. Something the prosecutor agreed was pertinent.

“It wouldn’t be fair to Mr Smith for him to be sentenced without a report being made available to the court,” the prosecutor said.

Smith will return to court for sentencing on September 18.