Accused knife attacker says he's a victim

A Melbourne man accused of attacking his estranged wife and her new partner says he was the victim in a road rage incident involving a knife and a shovel.

Bill Kontogeorgis was struck with a shovel in the November 2021 attack in peak-hour traffic on a busy Melbourne road, but prosecutors allege his victims were fearful because he was armed with a knife.

The 60-year-old applied for bail in Victoria's Supreme Court on Tuesday after a previous bid was denied by a magistrate.

But Justice John Champion, who will hand down his decision next week, was baffled by the behaviour.

“These people are well into their adult years – they have children who are adults,” he said.

“Why on earth is this sort of behaviour going on between these people?”

Paul Kounnas, for Kontogeorgis, said it was the result of an acrimonious break-up of a long-term relationship.

Kontogeorgis and his estranged wife separated in 2015 and she has since re-partnered.

The incident was captured by multiple witnesses and footage was shared by CrimeStoppers.

Mr Kounnas urged Justice Champion to watch the footage because it showed a shovel being used to violently beat Kontogeorgis.

The footage shows Kontogeorgis, armed with a knife, being swiped with a shovel by a woman before being knocked to the ground by a man armed with another object.

His former partner's new beau was treated in hospital for knife wounds and discharged the same day.

Kontogeorgis was also hospitalised and says he continues to feel tenderness around his face, difficulties walking and headaches.

Mr Kounnas said the allegations against Kontogeorgis were not good, “however the violence perpetrated against Mr Kontogeorgis can only be described as extreme”.

Mr Kounnas said Kontogeorgis' former wife and her new partner approached his car, suggesting they did so to instigate the violence.

He described them as the aggressors and said it was difficult to imagine they were so frightened when they didn't drive their car away.

Prosecutor Annerley Phelan opposed bail, arguing Kontogeorgis was a risk to the victim and the community.

“The victim is concerned … he will escalate in the assaults,” she said.

She revealed he has convictions for the previous assault of a former partner and for the assault of a former employer.

Ms Phelan said some of the footage also revealed the distress passers-by had felt witnessing the unfolding events.

“I think that's an important point for protection of the community, inadvertently having come cross and seen this very significant act of family violence,” she said.

Justice Champion will hand down his decision on Monday.

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