By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN bashed a mobile phone vendor in Dandenong Plaza, threatened to kill a support worker and rammed himself unconscious into a police cell wall, a court has heard.
Vincent Gigliotti, 37, had reacted “disproportionately” because he was off his anti-schizophrenic medication and “dabbling with ice”, his lawyer told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 29 February.
Gigliotti pleaded guilty to the assaults, including punching and throwing down a Dodo mobile phone kiosk worker in the shopping centre on 29 December.
During the argument, Gigliotti abused the victim at close range and was pushed back in the chest.
In what he described to police as a self-protective act, Gigliotti then punched the seller to the left side of the head, threw him to the ground and punched him several more times.
On 10 February, Gigliotti told a support worker during a “rambling” phone call that he’d “dismember” him and bring in the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang.
“When I get my hands on you, I’ll cut you up,” he told the worker.
Appearing on video link from Melbourne Assessment Prison, Gigliotti told the court he didn’t know any Bandidos members.
Gigliotti’s lawyer told the court that the accused couldn’t recall what he’d said during the phone call.
“Basically, we accept if that’s what he said, that’s what he said.”
The court heard the accused had a lengthy criminal history, several drug treatment court orders and been held in Thomas Embling high-security mental health hospital.
Gigliotti’s schizophrenic and narcissistic tendencies were possibly drug induced, the lawyer said.
“Mr Gigliotti says he needs help. The difficulties he faces and the intensity in which he needs to be assisted is the issue.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said the case had been recently adjourned after Gigliotti rammed himself into a wall and was taken to The Alfred hospital in a coma.
Mr Vandersteen said the accused had a history of going to jail, getting well, being released and then “the wheels come off somehow”.
“I have to accept you wouldn’t do this unless you were unwell.
“We have to also consider, apart from your rehabilitation, how to protect the community when you’re unwell.”
Gigliotti was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 26 April, pending a psychiatric report.
