FAMILY FEUD TURNS BLOODY
Dispute behind attack, court hears
A DISPUTE between two brothers was behind a knife attack in Waurn Ponds last week, a court has heard.
Geordie Provan, 20, appeared in custody at Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday after being charged over the incident on Friday night.
The apprentice roof plumber was fined and sentenced to time served in custody after pleading guilty to recklessly causing injury.
The court heard Provan did not stab his 18-year-old sibling but instead used the butt of a box cutter knife to punch the victim.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Siobhan Daly said police were called to Provan’s home on Waurn Ponds Drive about 10pm on Friday.
Various members of the family, including Provan’s mother and stepfather, were at a kitchen table drinking alcohol prior to the incident.
Sen-Constable Daly said a heated argument erupted after Provan directed a derogatory remark at his brother’s girlfriend.
The pair stood up and confronted each other with a slap and punch being exchanged.
Provan then armed himself with a box cutter and used it to punch his brother, causing a 3cm cut to the forehead and a graze to the victim’s upper arm.
The court heard the attack caused substantial bleeding before the victim was taken to Geelong hospital for treatment.
Sen-Constable Daly said the teenager had declined to provide a statement to police about the incident. Provan was taken into custody on Friday night and told officers he had consumed about five alcoholic drinks. He admitted punching his younger brother with the box cutter, but said the blade was closed when he launched the attack.
The court was told Provan was serving a community correction order at the time of the incident.
Defence lawyer Sarah Wood said her client was young and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Magistrate Franz Holzer sentenced Provan to three days’ imprisonment — recorded as time served — and fined him $2000.