Kurt Asi Martin pleaded guilty to burglary and assault

From a prisoner jailed for an ice-fuelled attack on a neighbour to a ‘reliable’ worker and tenant, the dramatic turnaround of an ex-con has been detailed in court.

A minor argument between neighbours turned into an ice-fuelled home invasion in which a man’s door was broken down and he was kicked and punched repeatedly, a court has heard.

Kurt Asi Martin, 39, pleaded guilty in Maryborough District Court to burglary and assault occasioning bodily harm.

The court heard before the attack, there had been animosity between Martin and his neighbour, who occupied units in the same block in Granville.

Weeks before the incident, the two had been involved in a minor argument over a bike.

Martin had also found out the man had made complaints about his friend, who also lived in one of the units.

It came to a head on June 4, 2020, when the neighbour heard loud banging on the door in the early hours of the morning.

When the man went to the door, he heard the door to Martin’s unit close.

He asked Martin and the other neighbour if they knew who had knocked on his door.

Martin then launched into a tirade, the court was told, asking the man why he was giving his friend “a hard time” and “why are you picking on an old man?”

Kurt Asi Martin, 39, pleaded guilty to burglary and assault occasioning bodily harm when he faced Maryborough District Court.

An altercation broke out between the two before the man returned to his unit.

Martin also returned to his unit before going to the neighbour’s unit and forcing entry.

Once inside, Martin had grabbed the other man by his jumper and hit the victim in the chest.

In response, the victim headbutted Martin in the face, but Martin continued his attack, punching and kicking the man, even while he was on the ground, the court heard.

The victim suffered two lacerations to his head.

A neighbour called triple-0 and police arrived.

Martin was taken to hospital for treatment to a laceration on his nose and then to the watch-house where he was charged.

He had spent 180 days in presentence custody.

The court heard since he had been released on bail, Martin had found employment.

He had been struggling with an ice addiction at the time of the attack, the court was told, but his time in custody had helped him rehabilitate and helped him cease his drug use.

A reference provided to the court from his landlord described him as reliable and courteous.

Judge Suzanne Sheridan said given Martin had found work in a labouring position and to return him to jail would hamper his rehabilitation.

“You are to be applauded for the changes you have made,” she said.

Judge Sheridan said the charges were serious and people had the right to feel safe in their own homes.

But she said Martin had made good progress while out on bail.

Martin was given a head sentence of 18 months in prison with immediate release on parole.

Originally published as Kurt Asi Martin pleaded guilty to burglary and assault