An elderly man had his skull fractured and suffered a life-threatening brain bleed after an assault outside his southside home, court documents say.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 82-year-old required reconstructive surgery to repair bone fractures in his face and still suffers numbness around his right eye and cheekbone.
Jacob Seretin, 21, of Torrens, is accused of inflicting the injuries after drinking half-a-bottle of rum and passing out at a friend's home on the evening of September 22.
He was arrested by police and appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday on a charge of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Court documents said the elderly man confronted Seretin outside his Pearce home after the accused kicked bins over about 10.30pm.
The man then collected a small pick handle and a camera and went back outside to take Seretin's photo.
Seretin then allegedly tackled the man to the ground, causing him to be knocked unconscious when his head struck a rock.
The elderly man allegedly fell in and out of consciousness three times, but told police he remembered the defendant took the pick handle, had put both his hands around his throat, and then fled.
About 2.10am, police arrested Seretin about 700 metres from the scene.
Forensic tests found the elderly man's blood on the defendant's clothes, court documents said.
The documents said the injuries - which included skull fractures, bleeding and bruising to the brain, and sight-threatening injuries to the man's right eye - had been caused by "multiple application of blunt force", with at least two sites of direct impact.
Seretin appeared before the court on Tuesday wearing a corrections issue jumpsuit, saying his pants had been confiscated because they contained a drawstring.
Seretin, who represented himself, applied for bail and prosecutor Emilija Beljic did not oppose the application.
But Ms Beljic insisted the court impose a number of bail conditions, including he reside in Torrens, not approach the victim or his home, and not drink alcohol.
Magistrate Peter Dingwall questioned why the defendant had been released in September, only to be arrested three months later.
The magistrate said Seretin should have been summonsed to appear before the court instead.
Magistrate Dingwall granted the accused bail on the conditions proposed by the prosecution, and ordered he pay a $2000 security.
Seretin will reappear before the court in January.
