Man sentenced over thumb bite in Hobart airport brawl

A MAN who bit down aggressively on his partner’s dad’s thumb in a brawl at Hobart Airport has been sentenced for his bizarre behaviour.

A man bit his partner’s father’s thumb in a bawl at Hobart Airportl. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

A MAN who bit down aggressively on his partner’s dad’s thumb in a heated argument at Hobart Airport has been handed a suspended sentence for his bizarre behaviour.

Mark Angus Hunt, 29, of Tea Tree, was this week sentenced in the Supreme Court in Hobart after pleading guilty to one count of Criminal Code assault and one charge of common assault.

Justice Stephen Estcourt labelled the incident “ugly” and said Hunt should be “thoroughly ashamed” of his actions.

Justice Estcourt told the court a verbal argument began between the complainant, Alexander Kamaric, and Hunt about 10.20am on December 2 last year outside the terminal.

Mr Kamaric and his wife had just arrived at the airport to drop off their daughter Alysia Kamaric, who had been in a relationship with Hunt for about seven years, for a flight to Brisbane as Hunt had taken a job in Queensland.

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“His partner had not told her family until the night before the incident, and accordingly on the

day of the offending at the airport, tensions were high,” Justice Estcourt said.

“The complainant recalls the defendant saying ‘you think I’m a woman basher, where’s your

proof’.

“Ms Kamaric, the complainant in the common assault charge, was attempting to intervene and break up the argument when the defendant walked towards her, aggressively pointing at her and spat in her face.”

The court heard Hunt then grabbed the Mr Kamaric by his T-shirt and pushed him on to the road and into the front passenger side of a passing hire car, causing the vehicle to stop and the men to fall to the ground.

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“During the scuffle, the complainant had his hands up near his head, believing he was about to be hit. The defendant bit down on the complainant’s thumb,” Justice Estcourt said.

“The complainant was unable to remove his thumb from the defendant’s mouth and estimates that his thumb was inside the defendant’s mouth for about a minute.”

Justice Estcourt said Mr Kamaric was found to have a significant deep bite to the thumb, near the joining of the hand. He also had sore ribs, grazing to his back and chest, and a contusion and abrasion to his scalp.

Mr Kamaric’s bite injury required a washout and a partial radial digital nerve repair.

Justice Estcourt said the injury was “more than just minor”, with Crown counsel telling him Mr Kamaric could no longer play the guitar as before.

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The court heard Hunt had no relevant prior convictions and was remorseful — co-operating with police and entering a very early plea before seeking legal advice.

Justice Estcourt imposed a single sentence of nine months jail, which was wholly suspended on the condition that Hunt not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment for a period of two years.

Hunt was also directed to perform 98 hours of community service within the next 12 months and ordered to pay compensation to Bargain Car Rentals for the damage caused to the vehicle the men hit.