A man who bashed a sick 57-year-old with a hammer during a violent home invasion has been jailed for two years and nine months.
Justin James Browne, 33, was recently sentenced in the Supreme Court after pleading guilty to wounding, aggravated burglary and stealing over the March 3, 2023, incident.
Justice Tamara Jago said Browne knew the victim from years earlier but the pair were not close friends.
Browne visited the man’s home that afternoon and shared a drink with him before leaving abruptly through the back door.
The court heard he was behaving erratically and a neighbour called police to report him banging on a door.
Hours later, after the victim had gone to bed, Browne came back. He tapped on the front door, then smashed a window with a hammer and forced his way inside.
He told the man he was going to kill him and hit him to the head with the hammer.
The victim grabbed a piece of wood to defend himself but lost it. Browne then struck him repeatedly to the face, head and body.
As he attacked, Browne called the man a “dog” and accused him of dobbing him in for something.
He demanded the victim’s television. When the man refused, Browne again threatened to kill him, grabbed the TV and left through a rear laneway.
A neighbour called police, who found the victim badly injured.
He suffered multiple facial and scalp wounds, including fractures to his eye socket and around his nose. He spent two days in hospital.
Jago said Browne was heavily using methylamphetamine at the time and had little memory of the attack.
“I do not have a victim impact statement from the complainant as he has since passed away. However, I have no doubt that the complainant found the ordeal quite terrifying,” she said.
“In my assessment, this is very serious criminal conduct, which caused significant harm. Conduct of this nature must be strongly condemned and punished.”
His sentence was backdated to December 13, 2025. He will be eligible for parole after serving half.
