Traralgon: Marquis Tupac Pizarro sentenced for tomahawk attack

A Traralgon man who “spontaneously” joined his girlfriend in attacking a woman in a neighbour’s unit has learned his fate.

A Traralgon man who cornered a woman in a bedroom and attacked her with a tomahawk has learnt his fate in court.

Marquis Tupac Pizarro, 20, appeared in the Melbourne County Court on Thursday, for sentencing over a string of serious charges dating back to an incident on 18 June 2020.

The court heard Pizarro and his “extremely angry” former girlfriend stormed through a neighbour’s unlocked front door and into the Traralgon unit shortly after 9pm.

The couple found the victim in a bedroom, with the woman striking the victim with a wooden pole – breaking it into two pieces.

An intoxicated Pizarro continued the assault with a tomahawk, while another occupant attempted to intervene and shield her.

Pizarro picked up a serrated knife, trying to reach the victim, but was pushed away by the intervening occupant, who was pleading with the couple to leave.

Before doing so the pair told the victim not to “dog” them by calling the police.

“Don’t forget we know where you live and will come back and get you,” they reportedly said, before Pizarro smashed the front door of the unit five times with the tomahawk before leaving.

Police arrived shortly afterwards and found the victim “bleeding profusely from a deep laceration to her head”.

Judge Carolene Gwynn told the court that while the victim was initially lucid and alert, her condition deteriorated by the time paramedics arrived – they struggled to find a pulse and estimated she had lost about a litre of blood.

She was rushed to hospital where her 8cm laceration was cleaned, sutured and stapled.

The victim also sustained a fractured skull and bruises and lacerations across her body – mainly caused by the tomahawk – and spent several nights in hospital.

Police forced entry into the couple’s apartment after they did not voluntarily surrender.

Pizarro was found hiding in the pantry, with the knife and tomahawk stashed in the bedroom cupboard.

The court heard Pizarro did not know the victim but “spontaneously” followed his then girlfriend – who was seeking “an apology” from the victim who had witnessed an earlier assault on her – out of love for her.

Despite this, Judge Gwynn said Pizarro had no hesitation in arming himself and using the tomahawk to carry out the vicious attack.

In an impact statement, the victim described her ongoing migraines and memory loss, that she had been left “somewhat housebound” and felt she would “never be the same person again”.

Judge Gwynn took into account his traumatic and abusive childhood and mental health issues, stating these factors reduced his moral culpability, and his remorse by way of his guilty plea.

With no prior criminal history, added his rehabilitation was moderate but could be reduced by gaining stable housing, seeking treatment for mental health issues and ceasing drug and alcohol use.

She convicted and sentenced Pizarro to 12 months imprisonment and reckoned his 326 days in pre-sentence detention as time served.

He must also complete a community corrections order upon his release, with conditions to perform community work and drug and mental health treatment.