A Melbourne pensioner became so furious after a disagreement over a garden hose that he killed his two neighbors with a shotgun.
Today, 74-year-old Rodney John Lee was given a 30-year prison term for the double murder of Saumoto Gasio and Tibor Laszlo at a Mordialloc apartment building.
Justice James Elliott predicted that Lee would most certainly pass away in custody after the killer’s “senseless and brutally violent” activities on January 13, 2022.
a graphic of a man with the words “rest in eternal love & peace” on it.
The Supreme Court heard that in the months preceding the shooting in Melbourne’s southeast, tensions between Lee and a number of neighbors grew worse.
Lee was upset that people would cut off a hose he used to water a community garden because he had accused one neighbor’s kid of being a drug dealer.
On the day of the murders, Lee left the hose running while entering his apartment. When he saw that the water had been turned off, he screamed in fury.
In court records, Lee is recorded as saying to his neighbors, “You turn the hose off again you bastards, I’ll f***ing kill you.”
Lee approached locals in the garden later that evening. He got into a fight with Mr. Gasio, who told him that since water was a limited resource, he would disregard his requests over the hose.
Lee then took his grandfather’s shotgun and returned to his squad. He turned around and returned to the group, firing at Mr. Gasio, who was seated on a bench, at close range.
Residents fled for their lives as Mr. Gasio, who was severely injured, stumbled into a neighbor’s apartment.
Lee entered through the door and reloaded the shotgun, striking Mr. Laszlo this time while neighbors attempted to assist Mr. Gasio.
At the site, both guys died.
I’ve been provoked a little, haven’t I?,” Lee said to the authorities during his interview. I’ve never intentionally hurt anyone, but enough is enough.
Lee, according to Justice Elliott, had expressed no regret for his deeds and persisted in thinking he was the aggressor in the neighborhood quarrel.
Justice Elliott stated that “nothing could justify the disproportionate, senseless, and brutally violent way in which you responded.”
“Both victims had no defense against you at all.”
Father of eight, Mr. Gasio, 62, spent 25 years instructing boxing and taekwondo.
Outside of court, Damien Gasio, his son, praised his father as a “amazing father and friend” and thanked the neighbors who attempted to save his life.
A man talks in front of the cameras and microphones of the media outside a courthouse.
The court also learned that Mr. Laszlo, 57, was a jeweler who had previously resided in Sydney, Germany, and Croatia before arriving in Melbourne.
Lee, according to Justice Elliott, had a difficult upbringing but went on to lead a steady professional life before retiring at the age of 58. Before the fatal assault, he manufactured gifts for kids, volunteered at a nearby church, and had no prior convictions.
From his cell, Lee appeared by videolink.
During the hearing, appeared to nod off while hunched over a desk. When the judge announced his sentencing for the double homicide, Justice Elliott startled him.
a scene in the dark with two police cars and officers standing nearby.
The court was informed that Lee had a number of medical issues and was currently using a wheelchair.
Lee was given a 30-year prison term, of which at least 24 must be spent in solitary confinement. He has already been detained for 565 days.
By the time he becomes eligible for parole in the early 2046, he will be 97 years old.
Justice Elliott predicted that you would be behind bars for the rest of your life.
