A DOUBLE stabbing that left a man fighting for life started over carport poles that were built 10 centimetres onto a neighbouring property.
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The carport, which had never been an issue, sparked a dispute when new residents moved into the Nicole Crescent home which the poles impinged on.
That dispute escalated into a chaotic brawl between the warring neighbours and their friends and family members on November 28 last year.
Michael Tanner, 59, was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with life-threatening injuries and has so far undergone three surgeries.
He may require further operations.
The Wodonga Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday a witness had stemmed the flow of blood after Tanner was stabbed, which may have saved his life.
Tanner had thrown a near empty beer can at his neighbours which had started the fight.
Damien Cardwell, 44, was stabbed in the chest and spent four days in intensive care after suffering a split rib, punctured lung and cuts.
Both men appeared before court and pleaded guilty to affray for their role in the altercation.
Shannon Hogan, 27, and Haylee Mckay, 25, have pleaded not guilty to their role in the stabbing and will face trial later this month.
The stabbing involved a 20-centimetre hunting knife which Mckay had allegedly given to Hogan, her partner.
Hogan is accused of confronting Cardwell on his front lawn five days before the fight and threatening to “blow his head off”.
Hogan and Mckay had installed security cameras pointing at their neighbours and a temporary fence between the properties before the fight.
Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge admonished Cardwell and Tanner for their role in the fight.
He questioned how much money the incident had cost the community.
“What a ridiculous escalation that involved a pole being 100 millimetres over a property line," he said.
Mr Lethbridge said the incident would have cost “a fortune” in medical bills and police time, but said both men were also victims in the matter.
Both men had missed a lengthy period of work while recovering from their injuries.
Tanner was placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond and fined $750.
Cardwell was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and fined $500.
No convictions were recorded.