Mrvje Mravak, 52, sentenced over threats to kill Geelong doctor and his family

A Geelong man who told a doctor he needed a gun to kill “him, his family and all the Russians” has avoided jail time.

A man who made threats to kill a Geelong doctor and his family has been sentenced at the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Mrvje Mravak, 52, pleaded guilty to making threats to kill a medical professional formally practising at a Ryrie St clinic, where he was a patient at the time of offending in July 2016.

Mravak told the doctor he planned to lodge a firearm application and requested a medical certificate to prove he was fit to hold a licence.

The court heard after the request was denied, Mravak told the victim “he needed a firearm to kill him, his family and all the Russians”, and that he knew where the victim lived.

On December 27, 2021 Mravak contacted the medical clinic telling the receptionist he would kill the victim while being unaware he was no longer working at the Ryrie St practice.

At 1pm on the same day Mravak attended the premise and gave his condolences to the reception staff before walking into the room where the doctor previously worked.

Defence lawyer Hilary Russell said her client, who suffers from schizophrenia, was not medicated at the time.

“In 2016, my client’s father died and he had formed the belief that the doctor had harmed and possibly killed his father,” she said.

“Since January 2021, he has been engaged with Barwon Community Health, he is medicated and he has deep remorse.

“From the first time I met him in January 2021, he is a changed man, he is articulate, balanced, steady and he has just moved into independent living.”

Magistrate Franz Holzer told the court Mravak’s threats were “deeply troubling for any person let alone a provider of health care”.

“Mental health issues are something that is very complicated, it is not easy to manage, you would know this better than anyone, you have been living with this for a number of years,” he said.

“The abuse you directed towards the doctor and medical practice, I think you understand it would have a significant impact.”

Mravak was sentenced to a two-year good behaviour bond with conviction.

Originally published as Mrvje Mravak, 52, sentenced over threats to kill Geelong doctor and his family