A HOBART man who bludgeoned his neighbour with an ornamental iron in a drunken brawl will be sentenced next week. Stephen John Gleeson, 55, has pleaded guilty to committing an unlawful act intending bodily harm for the violent attack in August last year. The charge is more serious than causing grievous bodily harm, but slightly less severe than attempted murder. Gleeson lashed out at neighbour Christopher Goss after a simmering verbal altercation during a day drinking session inside his Sandy Bay unit turned violent. When Mr Goss lunged at him with his fists clenched, Gleeson hit back three times with a glass beer stein before collecting the antique iron. He then hit Mr Goss three times to the skull, leaving him face down on the floor and barely moving. Defence lawyer Tamara Jago, SC, said overcome by anger and adrenalin, he then hit Mr Goss another three times with the full force of the iron. Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Darryl Coates, SC, said the attack had left the complainant with traumatic brain injuries, rendering him unable to read, write or live independently. Mr Coates said while there was significant provocation, it was clear that the last three blows had nothing to do with self defence. Justice David Porter will sentence Gleeson next week.
A HOBART man who bludgeoned his neighbour with an ornamental iron in a drunken brawl will be sentenced next week.
Stephen John Gleeson, 55, has pleaded guilty to committing an unlawful act intending bodily harm for the violent attack in August last year.
The charge is more serious than causing grievous bodily harm, but slightly less severe than attempted murder.
Gleeson lashed out at neighbour Christopher Goss after a simmering verbal altercation during a day drinking session inside his Sandy Bay unit turned violent.
When Mr Goss lunged at him with his fists clenched, Gleeson hit back three times with a glass beer stein before collecting the antique iron.
He then hit Mr Goss three times to the skull, leaving him face down on the floor and barely moving.
Defence lawyer Tamara Jago, SC, said overcome by anger and adrenalin, he then hit Mr Goss another three times with the full force of the iron.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Darryl Coates, SC, said the attack had left the complainant with traumatic brain injuries, rendering him unable to read, write or live independently.
Mr Coates said while there was significant provocation, it was clear that the last three blows had nothing to do with self defence.
Justice David Porter will sentence Gleeson next week.
