Melbourne sommelier spared jail after excessive self-defence ruling in assault case
Melbourne sommelier Lucas Chiche pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury after hitting his girlfriend on the head with a wine cooler during a drunken confrontation. The court accepted that she had scratched him and was “coming at” him, but ruled his response was excessive and illegal; the magistrate stressed that domestic violence was unacceptable.
Chiche was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond without conviction and must provide proof that he completes a men’s behavioural change programme. The magistrate said the excessive self-defence finding spared him the risk of jail, and warned that another offence involving violence could lead to a prison sentence. Chiche works at South Yarra restaurant Yugen Dining and has received recognition as a sommelier.
In short
- Lucas Chiche admitted recklessly causing injury to his girlfriend.
- The court found his response was excessive self-defence.
- He received a two-year bond and must complete a behaviour programme.
Explained simply
In Victoria, a person may use reasonable force to defend themselves, but the law does not allow a response that is excessive in the circumstances. A guilty plea to recklessly causing injury means accepting responsibility for causing harm while not necessarily intending the precise injury.
The case concerns Lucas Chiche, a Melbourne sommelier, and an assault during a confrontation with his girlfriend. The court’s decision turned on the circumstances of the incident and whether his use of force went beyond lawful self-defence.
Sentences can include conditions aimed at preventing further offending, such as a good behaviour bond and a behaviour change programme. The case also highlights how courts treat violence between partners and the possible consequences of another violent offence.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Yugen Dining sommelier bashed girlfriend with a wine cooler during drunken row: Why a court found Lucas Chiche acted in ‘excessive self-defence’”.