Photos reveal Mick Malthouse’s injuries after fighting off would-be intruders
Save
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
AAA
Crime scene photos have revealed AFL great Mick Malthouse was lucky to escape with minor injuries when he fought off three intruders in his East Melbourne apartment block last year.
A brief of evidence, released by the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court late on Tuesday, shows Malthouse suffered a small cut to his right arm and a wound to his chest when he was allegedly stabbed with a screwdriver by one of the trio, whom he called “a bunch of cockatoos”.
Mick Malthouse and injuries he sustained in a home invasion in September last year.Jason South/Melbourne Magistrates’ Court
Malthouse testified at a committal hearing on Monday for Joshua Di Cello, Aysar Mashu and Andrew Carroll, who have been charged with trying to invade Malthouse’s home along with a raft of other offences.
The police summary of allegations, obtained by this masthead after this week’s hearing concluded, accuses the trio of a brazen crime spree across the city in August and September last year.
Di Cello faces 53 charges for multiple commercial burglaries, car thefts, driving infringements, intentionally causing injury, and an attempted home invasion. Carroll faces 13 charges, while Mashu faces 11 charges.
A photo of Malthouse’s chest injury released on Tuesday.Melbourne Magistrates’ Court
The police brief alleges Di Cello obtained a fob to access Malthouse’s apartment complex when he robbed a construction company in Malvern on September 1.
Telephone intercepts and CCTV then allegedly captured Di Cello, Mashu and Carroll near Malthouse’s home just before he found three masked men trying to break in with a jemmy bar early on September 4.
“Malthouse was struck on his arm by the jemmy bar by Carroll,” police allege, “as Malthouse swung an exercise pole at them.”
Police say the trio then ran downstairs to escape, but a door wouldn’t open, “so Malthouse attempted to negotiate with them to open it so they could leave”.
“As he opened the door, Mashu passed Malthouse, he stabbed him in the chest with a screwdriver,” police say.
A cut on Mick Malthouse’s right arm.Melbourne Magistrates’ Court
“Carroll raised a jemmy bar he was in possession of. At that moment, Malthouse caught the jemmy bar with his left hand and struck Carroll on the left side of his head with the exercise bar, causing Carroll to drop the jemmy bar.”
CCTV captured three men running away before a car leaves the area. An intercept of Mashu’s phone soon after allegedly recorded Carroll requesting toilet paper, telling his co-accused: “Say nothing over the phone.”
Mashu is then captured on CCTV in a Parkville apartment block wearing identical high-vis clothing as a man seen running from Malthouse’s home an hour before.
Carroll is also caught on video with a significant welt under his left eye, which police say was not there an hour before the Malthouse home invasion.
Former AFL coach Mick Malthouse leaves Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.Jason South
The former Carlton, Collingwood, West Coast and Footscray coach called the three intruders “stupid” on Monday, telling the court he had managed to hit two of them with his exercise bar.
He added: “If I had my way, I would’ve had the three of them.”
Police allege the trio robbed a jeweller in Armadale the next night and then sped down the Monash Freeway after stealing $30,000 worth of goods.
Andrew Carroll with a welt under his eye, just after he allegedly tried to invade Mick Malthouse’s home.
“Hey, stop speeding, brother. We’re away from it. Calm down,” Carroll was allegedly caught on a phone intercept telling Di Cello.
“You told me to f---ing speed,” an incensed Di Cello purportedly said back.
“Just don’t drive erratical [sic] mate,” Carroll allegedly responded.
Later that day, police say they intercepted another call when Mashu appeared to accidentally pocket-dial Di Cello. In a five-minute conversation, three men calculated and argued how to split the proceeds of the stolen jewellery.
“What’s three divided by 42?” Carroll allegedly said.
“Fourteen hundred,” Mashu supposedly replied.
Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter here.
Save
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Lachlan Abbott is a crime reporter at The Age. He was previously a city reporter and covered breaking news.Connect via email.