Jude Corbett: Melbourne man jailed for attempting to kill father ‘to protect’ his nephews
The young man who tried to stab his father to death was to protect his nephews from abuse and neglect, the court was told.
Jude Corbett, 21, was sentenced to eight years in prison by Judge Amanda Fox on Friday. Fox said the sentence should reflect that no one “has the right to take the law into their own hands.”
Corbett attacked his father at his St Kilda flat at around 9pm on October 19 last year and left while neighbors sought help.
“I have to do this… I’m going to stop you,” he said.
He was arrested the same day and fully admitted that he wanted to kill his father, later pleading guilty to attempted murder.
The court was told that a psychiatrist who spent time with Corbett gave evidence that Corbett had an “extremely neglectful and fragmented childhood” and had suffered allegations of abuse at the hands of his father.
Judge Fox said his father denied abusing Corbett and that Corbett “constantly and truly believed” it had happened.
The judge said Corbett had been diagnosed with acquired brain damage and a personality disorder and believed authorities had failed to protect him.
“This contributed to your belief that only you could protect your nephews and that violent action was the only valid means of protection,” he said.
The court was told it was accepted there was no “imminent or immediate danger” to his nephews when Corbett decided to kill his father.
Judge Fox said the Crown had attempted to characterize the offense as “unlawful conduct” but that did not fully reflect the circumstances of his actions.
“You acted to protect your nephews, and while you knew what you did was wrong, your actions were influenced by your own childhood trauma caused by the person you attacked tonight,” he said.
“No person has the right to take the law into his own hands and attempt to kill another human being, regardless of what he knows or believes that person has done in the past or may do in the future.”
The judge accepted there was a “causal link” between the crime and the abuse Corbett was likely to have suffered.
Judge Fox said Corbett had a good chance of rehabilitation and his sentence should be commuted taking into account his mental impairments and history.
“There is a huge public interest in rehabilitating a young offender and maximizing their chances of pursuing a lawful life,” he said.
Corbett’s father survived the attack but has reduced mobility and no use of his right hand.
Corbett will be eligible for parole after serving four years and three months of his sentence.
