Source : Perth Now news
Angry after finding out he may not be the father of his pregnant partner’s child, a Victorian man killed a third man who was dating his ex, a court has been told.
Marc Robertson, 42, returned before the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Aaron Grant, 28, in March last year.
Outlining the Crown’s case, prosecutor Jonathan Manning said there was a “longstanding grievance” between Robertson and Mr Grant, who was dating Robertson’s ex-partner.
The court was told Robertson had attended a home on Heywood Crescent in Seymour, a town to Melbourne’s north, in the early hours of March 28 to speak with Shane Barns.
Robertson had learnt his partner was pregnant, but she was unsure if the child was his or Mr Barns’.
The pair were speaking in the living room when Mr Grant entered.
Robertson, the court was told, removed himself to the veranda, where he sat holding a knife and was “ranting illogically”.
After an “insulting comment” about his ex-partner, Mr Grant’s girlfriend, Mr Grant “launched himself” at Robertson and the two began fighting before the knife pierced Mr Grant’s chest.
Mr Manning told the court it was not alleged Robertson deliberately stabbed Mr Grant, but that he willingly fought the man while holding the knife that caused Mr Grant’s death in an “unlawful and dangerous act”.
The court was told CCTV captured Mr Grant cry out in pain and say he was bleeding, while Robertson yelled; “I f–king warned you, yeah I f–king warned you c–t”.
Robertson fled the scene while Mr Grant stumbled to the front of the property and collapsed on the driveway as Mr Barns and neighbours called triple-0 shortly before 3am.
He died in an ambulance on the way to a helicopter that would have flown him to the Royal Melbourne Hospital about 4.20am.
Robertson handed himself into police and told officers he’d stabbed Mr Grant in self-defence.
He claimed he was “petrified” and Mr Grant had “sicked” his dog on him.
“He said he tried to kick the dog and the deceased tackled him to the couch,” Mr Manning said.
The court was told there were no injuries observed on Robertson.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Grant’s brother Travis Grant said his brother was a deeply loved part of their family.
“The shock of losing Aaron in such a violent way is something I continue to carry every single day,” he said.
“I often think of the future Aaron was denied and the experiences he will never have with his son and our family.
“Aaron was more than a victim; he was loved son, brother, father and friend. He is deeply missed every day and his loss will remain for us for the rest of our lives.”
Mr Grant’s partner told the court his loss had affected every part of her life.
She said she continued to have nightmares about the incident and couldn’t comprehend what Robertson, with whom she shared four children, had done.
“How am I supposed to explain to a child when I don’t understand it myself?” she questioned.
Robertson’s barrister Belinda Franjic told the court her client’s life had spiralled out of control and into problematic meth use after a foot injury in 2013.
She said life was “clearly chaotic” at the time, with Robertson dealing with his drug use, lack of work, homelessness and the uncertain paternity of his partner’s pregnancy.
“That was the chaos that was involved in his life in the lead-up to the offending conduct,” she said.
Ms Franjic said the offending occurred in a manner of seconds and Robertson did not know Mr Grant was mortally wounded when he fled.
“Mr Robertson did not intend to hurt anyone when he was sitting on the couch with the knife in his hand,” she said.
Ms Franjic said it was important to note that while Robertson had arrived at Mr Barns’s home angry and aggressive, Mr Barns had said he’d calmed down before Mr Grant entered the home. In a letter to the court, she said, Robertson had written that he was devastated Mr Grant lost his life and felt regret for the pain his family endured.
Justice Amanda Fox will sentence Robertson at a later date.
