A TEXTING “war” of abusive and threatening comments led to an Albury man being savagely bashed with a baseball bat and receiving a fractured skull and broken jaw, a court heard yesterday.
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The victim was attacked on Monday night about 7.29pm outside a unit in Thurgoona Street after going there to resolve the situation.
But instead, he was allegedly attacked by a man and woman with witnesses seeing him covered in blood.
He was taken back to his residence, collapsed and was rushed to the Albury Base Hospital by ambulance.
Scans revealed a fractured skull and jaw and he was flown to St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne for treatment.
Police established a crime scene around a unit where Joseph Michael Brooks and Simone Antonie are living.
A black baseball bat was found at the bottom of a stairwell near their unit.
It was hidden under an upturned chair and was wrapped in a tea towel with blood and hair visible on the bat. Blood and hair were found on a landing and photographs taken of the victim showed two large gaping wounds on the top left side of his head.
The wounds were about five to six centimetres in length and a centimetre deep.
Brooks, 32, and Antonie, 35, both appeared in Albury Local Court charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
No application for bail was made by Brooks, with the case adjourned until Monday for a Director of Public Prosecutions representative to take over the matter.
Antonie made an application for bail which was opposed by police prosecutor Sgt Gary Rowe.
Sgt Rowe said Antonie’s alleged involvement revolved around providing the weapon.
Magistrate Megan Greenwood was told Brooks and Antonie are in a relationship.
The victim had blood all over his head and neck when he told a witness he had been bashed with a bat.
It was asked by the witness who did it and the victim replied: “Both of them.”
Ms Greenwood granted bail for Antonie with daily reporting to police and a $1000 surety.
An interim apprehended violence order was granted which prevents Antonie from approaching or contacting the victim.