In a blatant city attack, the brother of a Victorian magistrate was imprisoned for slashing another man in the chest with a kitchen knife.
Sean Sonnet entered a guilty plea today for purposefully hurting the guy on August 31, 2023, just after nine in the morning, at an East Melbourne park.
After the two argued about smokes, Sonnet stabbed the victim in the chest with the 30-cm knife, according to testimony given to Melbourne Magistrates Court.
While Sonnet fled, witnesses and the victim’s girlfriend hurried to assist the man and dialed Triple Zero.
After 30 minutes, the 55-year-old man—the brother of Magistrate Brett Sonnet—was taken into custody by police after he swung a tomahawk at them close to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Along with the weapon, two knives, and tiny bags containing cannabis and methamphetamine were taken by the police.
Prosecutor Eli Fryer noted the size of the knife used and called the attack blatant and quite dangerous.
Due to a deep stabbing wound to the right side of his chest, the victim was admitted to the hospital.
Emma Turnbull, Sonnet’s attorney, said that the event was worrisome and that it was lucky no other injuries occurred.
She informed the court that after being freed from jail, Sonnet turned back to drugs. Turnbull stated that because he lacks protective factors and supports, he struggles when released from detention, having spent a large portion of his adult life in it.
“We’re dealing with an institutionalised man … a man who is far too comfortable in jail,” she continued. “He needs to learn how to live in the community.”
Sonnet was sentenced to 15 months in jail by Magistrate Tony Burns, but he was given an additional 3 months to serve cumulatively with another sentence previously completed, so he would only be out of jail for roughly 12 months.
Due to his possession of drugs and firearms, as well as his resistance to an emergency worker, Sonnet was found guilty and fined $1,500.
He saw today’s hearing from prison via video link, but he remained silent.
In 2012, he was imprisoned for plotting to kill someone through the involvement of Melbourne mafia leader Carl Williams.
