A MAN who bit part of a person’s ear off after attacking them with a claw hammer at a 21st birthday party has been jailed.
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A witness said it was only by sheer luck the head of the hammer missed the victim’s skull and didn’t kill him, with only the handle making contact.
The 27-year-old had no idea his attacker had been approaching, ready to strike.
Concrete labourer Simon O’Brien, 33, was described as being “out of control” and “off his face” during the event on August 8, 2015.
The Myrtleford man started his rampage at the Lower River Road home in Gapsted by headbutting and punching the victim to his nose and face in an unprovoked attack.
They wrestled as the victim tried to defend himself and exchanged punches on the ground before being separated.
O’Brien remained aggressive after the first altercation despite family members trying to restrain him.
He charged towards the victim, who fled, and O’Brien was seen on the ground moments later fighting him.
They were again separated and partygoers pleaded with O’Brien to calm down.
The victim decided to leave and was collecting personal items from a marquee when O’Brien reappeared with the claw hammer.
He swung at the victim from behind and the hammer head only slightly missed the victim’s skull.
A witness, who had not been drinking, said it was only by sheer luck the offender wasn’t killed.
Family members had to wrestle the hammer from his hand.
But the drama didn’t stop there.
O’Brien again attacked the man and “fired a volley of punches” at him from behind before latching onto him and biting a chunk from his left ear.
The victim later told police he feared he would die as he lay down with his face and body covered in blood flowing from his ear.
The chunk of flesh was found outside on the ground and could not be reattached.
Several witnesses told police they were concerned and frightened by the “extreme aggression” displayed by O’Brien, who appeared before Myrtleford Court on Friday.
He was sentenced to a maximum of 15 months in jail after being sentenced by magistrate Stella Stuthridge with a minimum of nine months.