Tenant's knife-point threat to landlord

A 35-year-old man today admitted pointing a knife at his landlord during an argument.

Dimetri Robinson of Warwick got into argument with his landlord, Edwin Kent Lee, at 1pm on January 6 after Mr Lee questioned him about his missing Play Station.

Robinson and his wife rent a room in Mr Lee’s home.

The court heard Robinson told Mr Lee the Play Station was in the downstairs apartment. An argument began between the two and it got so heated that police were called.

When police arrived, the Play Station was returned.

Crown counsel Susan Mulligan said at 4pm the same day, Mr Lee and Robinson got into another argument. Mr Lee told Robinson to get out of his house.

The court heard Robinson became “enraged” and went into his room and came out with a knife. He began pointing the knife at Mr Lee and said: “I ain’t going nowhere”.

Mr Lee left the home and went to a neighbour’s home where he called the police.

When police arrived, Robinson was seen sitting on a wall near the property. He took the knife out of his pants and dropped it behind the wall.

Police arrested him and the knife was seized. During an interview, Robinson admitted having the knife in a public place and behaving in a threatening manner towards Mr Lee.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: “You say there’s a difficult living situation. None of that matters concerning arming yourself with a knife regarding this ongoing dispute.

“This law is aimed specifically at your behaviour in these types of circumstances. Just because you have a dispute you go arm yourself with a bladed article because it’s likely to escalate the situation and somebody’s going to end up killed.”

Mr Warner ordered pre-sentencing reports and told Robinson he must stay away from the Spring Hill, Warwick home and the complainant.

He was granted $1,000 bail and will be sentenced in March.