‘We were both to blame’: Dad tries to protect son after drunken ‘elder abuse’ bashing

A Triabunna man called triple-0 for help after he was brutally assaulted by his son, and needed emergency surgery for a ruptured spleen. But his story changed when police arrived >

Kane North spent 56 days in custody after a drunken assault that hospitalised his father.

A Triabunna man has been released from prison after brutally bashing his dad during a drinking session, rupturing his spleen, and fracturing his ribs, cheekbone and jaw.

The man’s 55-year-old father – who phoned triple-0 and said he’d been subjected to “elder abuse” before later telling police nothing had happened – says he loves his son and wants to “move on and put this behind us”.

In his comments on passing sentence, Supreme Court judge Stephen Estcourt said Kane North was 29 when the pair began drunkenly arguing at their home in August 2021.

North grabbed his father off the couch, pushed him into a kitchen table, punched him repeatedly to the head and body – then elbowed him to the head – when he fell to the ground.

The victim called triple-0 and stated he had been subjected to “elder abuse” and wanted to go to hospital.

But when police arrived, North’s father said he wanted to go to hospital for his “mental health” and denied anything else had occurred.

Police observed some signs of injury and an ambulance was called, with paramedics observing changes to his heart rate, indicating possible internal bleeding.

North’s father was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with a ruptured spleen with ongoing bleeding, along with numerous fractures.

He needed emergency surgery to block off the artery to his spleen, and discharged himself from hospital three days later.

A few months later in a police interview, North said he didn’t really remember the incident, claimed his dad had fallen over and hurt himself, and denied bashing him.

When challenged by police, he admitted he’d bashed his father “pretty hard”, and that he was sorry about what had happened.

North’s father said in a statement that their relationship was close and they were “both to blame” for what happened.

He said his son had experienced a difficult childhood and had witnessed domestic violence being perpetrated against his mother, which affected him deeply as he’d been protective of her.

“Kane is my son and I love him. I will always love him and support him and I know he loves me. We want to move on and put this behind us,” North’s father said.

North, who pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, spent 56 days in custody – with Justice Estcourt deciding no further period of imprisonment was required.

North was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, but has been released from prison, with the balance suspended.

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