Karn Helwig: Brainiac bashed, chased bike-riding pal in iPad fight
A former CSL scientist launched a public attack on an old mate on a bustling Langwarrin road because of a tiff over a tablet.
South East
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A stroppy scientist unhappy that his mate had stolen his iPad bashed him off his bike, chased him down a busy road and stole his wallet, a court has heard.
Karn Joshua Helwig pleaded guilty to unlawful assault and theft charges at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard Helwig was driving along Cranbourne-Frankston Rd in Langwarrin in March 2019 when he came across a former friend who he believed had ripped him off.
He chucked a U-turn after he saw him cycling along the road and parked up around the corner near The Gateway shopping centre.
In full view of customers he then got out of his car, walked up to the victim, “round armed” him to his head and kicked him off of his bike before the man managed to run away.
But the scientist, who used to work at CSL, wasn’t happy with that so gave chase and confronted the roughed-up rider once again.
Helwig then demanded the victim’s wallet, saying he owed him money for an iPad that had been taken from his house.
He took the wallet, which contained the man’s credit cards, walked back to his car and drove off.
When he was later arrested Helwig denied being involved in any incident until he was shown CCTV footage and admitted being there.
His defence lawyer told the court his client had no prior criminal convictions, had not offended since and this was completely out of character for him.
She said the victim wasn’t hurt in the incident, telling police he “only felt a knock to the head”, and there had been issues between the pair over a missing iPad.
She said Helwig worked as an associate scientist for CSL for more than 15 years before he left due to bullying and went to a body scan company, but that job was lost due to COVID-19.
She said he was under extreme pressure at the time of the assault, and knows his actions were unacceptable.
Magistrate Vicky Prapas said the attack was calculated.
“You saw a person you had a grievance with on his bike and targeted him,” Ms Prapas said.
“There is a public nature to the assault.
“You took overt steps to fulfil what you wanted to do.”
Helwig was fined $1500, with no conviction recorded.
