Fatal twist to fight

North Geelong father sentenced

A NORTH Geelong father has learned his fate over a fight that happened only minutes before another man died after stepping out of a moving vehicle.

Nathan Leigh Robertson, 31, will not serve any time behind bars after admitting to shattering a car window and “nudging” the same vehicle several times on December 20, 2020.

In his ruling in the Geelong County Court last week, Judge Geoffrey Lyon ordered Robertson to undertake a 12month community corrections order. The court heard the man had been attempting to come to the aid of his brother when a fight broke out on a North Geelong street.

On a previous occasion, the court heard there was “ongoing animosity” between Jeremy Robertson and coaccused Brandon Juresko.

Nathan Robertson punched Mr Juresko, and shattered the front window of the Holden Commodore Mr Juresko was in.

Several minutes later as Robertson’s Nissan Patrol followed the Commodore down Victoria St, he “nudged” it several times.

Judge Lyon said the affray was an example of some “very poor” driving and the offending was “relatively serious”.

“It was you who chose to go up and punch (Juresko), and it was you who chose to smash the window of the car,” he said. “You made several conscious decisions to take on this fight and keep it going.”

Benjamin Norsworthy, 32, had been a passenger in the back seat of the Commodore before he stepped out of the moving vehicle and hit his head on the road.

The Robertson brothers, who had pulled over momentarily, stopped to administer aid until an ambulance arrived.

Mr Norsworthy was flown to The Alfred hospital, but died six days later.

Judge Lyon also said there had been a “sufficient break in time, distance and conduct” that Robertson “should not be held responsible” for Mr Norsworthy’s decision to leave the car. He also acknowledged the “tremendous loss” the victim’s family had faced in the months since his death.

Judge Lyon cited Robertson’s early guilty plea, deep remorse over the incident and “committed family support” as factors in sentencing.

As part of the community corrections order, he will be required to undertake mental health treatment, 100 hours of community work and programs to reduce offending.