Chainsaw vs croquet mallet: Supreme Court jury hears dog dispute turned violent
A Middleton man allegedly told his neighbour “I’m going to cut your head off” before attacking him with an operating chainsaw. A jury is hearing how a fight over a dog allegedly turned violent>
Police & Courts
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An argument over a dog allegedly turned violent almost four years ago, when a man claims he tried to fight off his chainsaw-wielding neighbour with a croquet mallet.
Lisa Anne Perryman, 56, is currently standing trial in the Supreme Court of Tasmania after she allegedly abetted and encouraged her husband to attack their neighbour with a chainsaw in November 2020.
Mrs Perryman is facing a trio of charges alone, as her husband and co-accused Neville Perryman died in July 2022.
She has pleaded not guilty to two counts of committing an unlawful act intended to cause bodily harm, after her husband allegedly struck Horace Reginald Peter Monshing with an operating chainsaw, with intention to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.
Mrs Perryman has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Monshing, after her husband allegedly punched him to the face multiple times.
On Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Julianne Greenwood said although Mrs Perryman did not wield the chainsaw or punch Mr Monshing herself, she was still criminally responsible for her husband’s crimes.
Ms Greenwood said Mrs Perryman either abetted her husband, or the pair “formed a common purpose” to commit the crimes.
She said the Perrymans had a dog that was causing tension between the neighbours, who all lived on Wards Court, Middleton, south of Hobart.
Ms Greenwood said on the day in question, on November 17, 2020, Mr Monshing had called the local council about the dog.
About 10.20pm that night, she said, after consuming alcohol, the Perrymans drove up the Monshings’ driveway to confront Mr Monshing.
Ms Greenwood said Mr Perryman was carrying a chainsaw – with the Monshings looking out their window to see he had the power tool turned on, and was swinging it and “causing damage”.
The prosecutor said Mrs Perryman then got out of the car and started to verbally abuse Mr Monshing – with Mr Monshing reaching for a croquet mallet behind his front door.
Mr Perryman allegedly told him, “I’m going to cut your head off” before actively swinging the chainsaw at Mr Monshing’s head – while his dog bit Mr Monshing’s legs.
The chainsaw allegedly made contact with Mr Monshing’s arm.
Mrs Perryman then allegedly said “I want him dead”, “I want the dog to rip his throat out” and “kill them, kill them, I want them all dead”.
Mr Monshing then swung his croquet mallet at the chainsaw as Mr Perryman allegedly attempted to strike him a second time.
The chainsaw allegedly connected with Mr Monshing's finger, exposing the bone.
The two men wrestled, Ms Greenwood said, with Mrs Perryman screaming: “I want you dead, I want your wife dead, I want your daughter dead and I know where to find her” and “I’ll have to get my brothers to finish the job”.
The Crown alleges that Mr Perryman was encouraged by his wife’s words and behaviours, making her criminally responsible.
The trial continues.
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