A man will undergo a psychological assessment after admitting to stabbing a 72-year-old relative in the back.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mark-John Martyn appeared distressed in the Wodonga Magistrates Court recently after pleading guilty to charges stemming from the September 6 incident.
Despite this, Martyn returned to the property on the day of the incident.
He had been drinking beer and smoking marijuana at a friend's home in Wodonga earlier that day.
He smashed a drink through the plaster wall of the home about 8pm, making the victim angry.
A physical altercation broke out and lasted for several minutes before Martyn grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen and stabbed the man in the back.
He initially didn't realise he had been stabbed, but later went to Albury Base Hospital.
Martyn was arrested and his cannabis was seized from the home.
He made admissions when questioned by police about the stabbing, but said it was in self defence.
The damage to the wall, he said, was just him "being cheeky".
IN OTHER NEWS:
His grandmother Maureen was in court for the case, and appeared to side with her grandson over her husband.
She blew kisses to Martyn, waved her hands around and tried to get the attention of magistrate Ian Watkins multiple times.
She ranted at times about the matter.
She also has an order out against her grandson.
Martyn has been involved in a string of other incidents at the property, including smashing a fence on Christmas Day last year.
He was ordered not to go to the boundary fence that is shared with neighbours but was caught on security cameras screaming them on February 7.
A similar incident occurred on April 30 with police called to the scene.
He was involved in another incident on March 28 where police were called, and was caught at the home on July 27 in breach of the order his grandmother had taken out.
He was also found with seven grams of cannabis in his bedroom.
Martyn has been in custody since the stabbing and appeared to breathe deeply and sob during the latest proceedings.
He applied to be released on bail, hoping to live with his mother, last month, but the release application was refused.
During that application, lawyer Mario Vaccaro said his client was troubled and needed help, having had a traumatic upbringing.
Martyn appeared in the Wodonga court through a video link to custody and at times stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily.
He pleaded guilty to a string of charges with some of the counts against him withdrawn.
Magistrate Ian Watkins ordered a forensic mental health assessment be conducted before Martyn is sentenced.
The matter will return on December 3.