Hit with fight fine

A WARWICK man, who punched his brother in the face during an argument, has claimed the assault was driven by months of escalating tensions while living together.

The conflict came to a head just before 11pm on March 17 when the Warwick man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was woken by his sibling and the other man’s partner yelling in the kitchen.

Warwick Magistrates Court heard the 54-year-old walked through the house, commenting on a few items he believed had gone missing since his brother moved in, then returned to the kitchen and got into a verbal argument with his sibling.

Police prosecutor Ken Wiggan said it wasn’t until the man’s brother swore at him that violence broke out, with the man putting his sibling in a headlock and punching him once in the face.

“He was interviewed by police, and said on that particular evening things came to a head. He said that his brother and girlfriend were doing drugs in his house, and he was annoyed some property in his house had gone missing,” he said.

The man’s brother was left with a graze and swelling on his left cheek after the assault.

Sergeant Wiggan said the man had no relevant criminal history, and had not committed an offence since 2015.

The court was told a domestic violence order had since been put in place.

Defence lawyer Hamish Chapman contended the Warwick man took his brother and his partner in about three months prior to the assault in an attempt to help them beat their drug addiction.

“There were some issues with them staying at the property – there was property missing and damaged,” Mr Chapman said.

“It doesn’t excuse his behaviour, Your Honour, but in a situation where he’s taken in his brother off the streets into his own home and he’s insulted in his own kitchen having taken this man in, it’s understandable but not excusable by any means.”

Mr Chapman said the Warwick man was also a proud member of his community, volunteering as a sports coach around work commitments.

The man pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was fined $350 and no conviction was recorded.

HE’S TAKEN IN HIS BROTHER OFF THE STREETS INTO HIS OWN HOME AND HE’S INSULTED IN HIS OWN KITCHEN.

HAMISH CHAPMAN