Coroner reveals findings into death of Geelong artist Sheldon Broderick

A man who struck a Geelong dad in the head with a cricket bat in a vigilante confrontation then filmed him and posted it to Snapchat, a coronial report has revealed.

Investigators at the scene in 2022. Picture: Alan Barber

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned this story contains the name and images of a deceased person.

A man who struck a Geelong dad in the head with a cricket bat in a vigilante confrontation then filmed him and posted it to Snapchat, a coronial report has revealed.

Sheldon Broderick died in hospital after Jake Mouat struck him twice in a vigilante confrontation in Corio in 2022.

Indigenous artist Sheldon Broderick died following an altercation in 2022. Picture: Supplied

A coroner’s report stated police found a video on Mr Mouat’s phone, which appeared to be filmed by him, showing Mr Broderick lying slumped over a broken window.

“It was uploaded to Snapchat and the following caption was callously added, ‘Just knocked this bloke out cold trying too (sic) slash me after breaking into the fish and chip shop’,” it stated.

Coroner David Ryan said that he believed “an indictable offence may have been committed” during the altercation and that the 48-year-old artist could still be alive today if Mr Mouat used a “more restrained approach”.

Mr Mouat, who claims he acted in self-defence, was charged with manslaughter in July 2022 but the charges were dropped the next year.

According to the report, Mr Broderick left the Gateways Hotel in Corio about 2.20am on June 20, 2022

He then broke into Ray’s Fish and Chip and Pizza shop on Corangamite Drive about 5am, smashing a hole in the front window using a concrete drain cover he found nearby.

He was allegedly trying to steal a Barwon Health Foundation tin containing $15.

Mr Mouat lived next door to the shop and heard a disturbance outside.

Concerned someone may be breaking into cars on the street, he went outside and saw Mr Broderick smashing into the shop.

Police at the scene in 2022. Picture: Alan Barber

Mr Mouat went back inside and called the previous owner of the shop who contacted the current owners and police.

The report stated Mr Mouat then took his cricket bat with him “for protection”.

“He confronted Mr Broderick who was inside the shop and told him that ‘you’re not going anywhere’ and that the police had been called,” the report stated.

Mr Mouat told police Mr Broderick threatened him with a knife and began to scramble out the broken window when he hit him in the leg with the cricket bat.

He then struck him in the head twice, the second blow rendering him unconscious.

Mr Mouat called emergency services and told the operator a burglar had tried slashing him with a knife through the window of the shop and he had used a cricket bat to knock him out and had disarmed him.

Mr Broderick was flown to the Alfred hospital in Melbourne but later died.

In an autopsy report, forensic pathologist Dr Yeliena Baber wrote she did not observe any bruising to the legs or shoulders which she stated was inconsistent with any account of Mr Broderick being struck on the legs.

Coroner David Ryan wrote it was “regrettable Mr Mouat did not exercise more caution and wait for police to arrive before arming himself and confronting Mr Broderick”.

“A more restrained approach would have likely avoided the tragic outcome of Mr Broderick losing his life,” he said.

“Members of the public should only intervene with force where it is necessary to

protect themselves or others.

“I direct the principal registrar to notify the Director of Public Prosecutions that I believe an indictable offence may have been committed in connection with Mr Broderick’s passing.”

Originally published as Coroner reveals findings into death of Geelong artist Sheldon Broderick