Chris Lyons killer pleads guilty to manslaughter and recklessly causing injury over Dandenong South caravan park death
A man has described watching his father die “on the cold ground” after being stabbed during a brutal attack at a Dandenong caravan park.
South East
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The man who fatally stabbed a father in front of his son in a caravan park the night before Father’s Day has pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court.
Under the pseudonym JG, the 27-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges including the manslaughter of Chris Lyons, 41 and recklessly causing injury to Tyson Lyons, Chris Lyons’ son, at Dandenong South caravan park
The court heard JG fatally stabbed Mr Lyons three times on the evening of September 4, 2021.
Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill told the court JG had only met the victim and his son on the evening of the violent incident.
The court heard the men had been drinking together for a number of hours before the deadly attack
The court heard following an argument between Chris and Tyson, JG grabbed a knife, leant over the table and fatally stabbed Mr Lyons.
Ms Churchill said Tyson attempted to intervene, where he sustained a significant stab wound to his right forearm.
The court heard Mr Lyons told his son to leave the caravan.
“Get out Tys, I’m gonna die,” he said.
Tyson and his father both exited the caravan, before Chris collapsed to the ground.
Paramedics attended, but after attempting to treat Mr Lyons, he could not be revived.
The court heard JG had been shouting at Chris Lyons as he lay on the ground dying, saying “get on the ground you dog”.
Four victim impact statements were read to the court, from Mr Lyons’ mother, and from Tyson.
Tyson described the moments his father died in front of him.
“I had to watch my father get stabbed and die,” he said.
“He had to pass away on his own, on the cold ground, with nobody there with him. I can’t get over that.”
Tyson said he “feels like after the court case, he will just get worse”.
“I’m blaming myself for what happened that night, I feel guilty because I couldn’t help him or save his life,” he said.
Mr Lyons’ mother, Jane, told the court she now had “zero enjoyment of life”.
“I don’t want to do anything anymore,” she said.
“It’s not the right way of things, children should not die before their parents do.”
Defence counsel Diana Price cited JG’s difficult childhood and intellectual disability as aggravating factors.
“Both his parents were alcoholics,” she told the court.
“The children saw verbal abuse, physical abuse and the destruction of property.”
Ms Price told the court violence had been a coping mechanism for JG while he was bullied at school.
“Children mercilessly picked on him at school and fighting was the only response he knew,” she said.
Regarding JG’s rehabilitation, Ms Price characterised the offending as “brief but ferocious”, but that it wasn’t premeditated.
“He knows he made a decision that has had profound consequences. This sits heavily upon him and contributes to the way he feels,” she said.
Justice Lex Lasry told the court JG’s behaviour shows “positive signs”.
JG will return to court for sentencing at a later date.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
