Mark Andrew Sandery, 53, is standing trial for a hammer attack on Michael Kriticos, 58, in Exeter, South Australia on November 8, 2022. Sandery asserts he was acting in self defence after Kriticos initiated the confrontation.
Prosecutor Matthew De Lorme told the District Court that Kriticos was walking his dog when he got into an altercation with a group of youths. After punches were thrown, a civilian intervened, and Kriticos was taken home.
Shortly after, Kriticos saw two men, one believed to be Sandery, allegedly smashing his front door with a hammer. When Kriticos leaned forward to investigate, he was struck in the eye with the hammer and lost consciousness.
When police arrived, they found Sandery allegedly assaulting neighbour Jodie Wakeling, throwing her to the ground and stomping on her head. Sandery, from Kilburn, has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted serious criminal trespass and recklessly causing harm.
Kriticos testified that he recognised Sandery from news reports about an incident where Sandery’s son was shot. He recalled hearing Sandery yell, “I’m going to kill you,” before the attack. After regaining consciousness, Kriticos said the scene was “absolute chaos” and that he was “terrified.”
Sandery’s defense lawyer, Nick Healy, urged the jury to consider who was the initial aggressor in the dispute and argued that Sandery’s actions toward Wakeling were in self defence.
The trial continues.
Source: The Advertiser.
