Callum Ritchi slashed ex-mate’s chest with knife at Albion Hotel in Dandenong over ‘childish’ texts
Two mates fell out over a car sale and both resorted to abusive “childish” text messages. But what happened next let to a stoush at a Dandenong pub where one man was left with a 45cm slash across the chest.
South East
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A knife-wielder who slashed a 45cm gash into a former mate’s chest after they had a fight outside a Dandenong pub faces a long stretch behind bars.
Callum Ritchi caused the deep laceration to his ex-pal when they met up in an arranged stoush after sending each other “childish” text messages over the sale of a car.
The unlicensed 20-year-old had ridden his unregistered scooter from his Mt Evelyn home to the Albion Hotel pub to settle a score when things “turned nasty”.
At Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday the now 21-year-old, who had his birthday in custody, pleaded guilty to charges of affray, intentionally cause injury and two driving charges.
The court heard during the afternoon of August 28 this year the victim and the pair exchanged threatening messages about a car sale.
They arranged for a fight, and Ritchi rode from his home to meet up with the ex-pal at the Lonsdale St pub.
When Ritchi turned up the mate came outside and swung a spirit level at him, but missed.
In retaliation Ritchi slashed at the victim with a large knife, cutting him and leaving a long laceration across his chest.
He then rode off on his scooter while a passer-by called an ambulance.
When Ritchi was interviewed a few days later he admitted being involved in the fight, and said he had dumped the knife near Dandenong Plaza.
He said he carried the weapon because he feared his mate would be armed, and admitted driving illegally to the fight venue.
He was on a community corrections order at the time of which he had only completed six out of the 250 hours of unpaid work he was meant to have done.
Ritchi’s defence lawyer said they had been good friends before the text messaging had “escalated” into the prearranged fight.
She said this was his first time in custody and he had already spent 22 days behind bars, and time was needed for a psychologist’s assessment report which would go towards explaining his behaviour.
Magistrate Tony Burns said the “nasty” knife attack had caused a “significant laceration” stretching 45cm across the man’s chest all because of some “childish” text threats.
He said he was considering a jail sentence that would involve a non-parole period, meaning Ritchi faced at least a year behind bars.
He was remanded in custody to allow time for the assessment and for victim impact statements and medical reports to be collated.
Ritchi was also fined $600 for the two driving offences and will face court for sentencing on the affray and causing injury charges on November 17.
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