Bashed man, 74, just tried to help

By Michelle Herbison
A 74-YEAR-OLD good Samaritan suffered a broken eye socket trying to stop a Corio man bashing his girlfriend, a court has heard.
Geelong Magistrates Court was told 39-year-old Jamie Lewis, of Cox Rd, jumped a fence, punched the elderly victim in the face and wrestled him to the ground after he called “settle down”.
The December 22 attack left the victim hospitalised.
The court heard that Lewis intentionally injured his girlfriend a week earlier when he suspected her of infidelity.
He pushed her to the ground, pinned her arms with his knees while sitting on her chest and choked her for about six seconds.
Lewis also slapped her face, hit her head against a wall and forced her to say “I’m a dirty slut”, the court heard.
The victim suffered red marks and bruising on her head and neck, several cuts and had difficulty swallowing and talking.
Lewis pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury to his girlfriend and the 74-year-old man after reading victim impact statements in March.
But Lewis told the court he had little memory of either incident due to intoxication.
Defence lawyer Mary Foley told the court Lewis had a history of inability to control his emotions, possibly stemming from the breakdown of his parents relationship while he was a teenager.
The court heard Lewis had three prior convictions for offences against a person, two of which also involved his personal relationships.
A psychologist’s report said Lewis suffered mild depression, had alcohol abuse issues and needed counselling.
Ms Foley said Lewis had reduced his drinking since the incident.
Police prosecutor Kerrie Moroney said the psychologist’s report was “very self-serving”.
“He clearly has issues with trust and infidelity but he can’t expect the court to be lenient just because these matters have come to a head,” she said.
Magistrate Stephen Myall ad-journed the hearing until June 1.
“This is a complex matter and the court requires more time,” he said.