Father’s Day brawl at Midway Tavern: Man jailed after stabbing two brothers

A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he stabbed two brothers in a pub. 

Jacob Donhardt, pleaded guilty over the stabbing of brothers Nicholas and Jordan Feast during a brawl between their families on Father’s Day, September 6, in 2020.

During sentencing on Tuesday, the District Court heard the brawl occurred over a game of pool at the Midway Tavern, in north Adelaide’s Elizabeth Downs.

The brawl resulted in Donhardt brandishing a flick knife and stabbing Jordan in the cheek and arms, and Nicholas in the stomach and collarbone. 

Donhardt pleaded guilty to two charges of causing harm with intent and he was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

He will serve a non-parole period of four years and eight months that is backdated to September 7, 2020. 

The court heard, Donhardt and his family were playing pool when they were approached by the victims’ father Matthew Feast who asked if he could join in.

Donhardt’s mother then became angry and threw her pool cue onto the table before one of the Feast family yelled insults and a physical altercation erupted, the court heard.

Donhardt approached Matthew with a pool cue, striking him ‘over the head several times, causing the cue to snap in half,’ Judge Anthony Allen said.

The court heard his stepfather Garry Frost also struck Matthew in the back of the head before being punched in the head several times by Nicholas.

Jordan, who had been smoking a cigarette at the time, rushed back inside and attempted to push the knife-wielding Donhardt outside, the court heard.

‘He attempted to break up the fight … while Jordan Feast pushed you out of the western door, you stabbed him to the face and arm,’ Judge Allen said.

The brothers then chased Donhardt to the carpark where Nicholas grabbed him by the shirt before he was stabbed in the stomach and collarbone, the court heard.

Prosecutors alleged Donhardt was heard telling the brothers: ‘‘Back off or I’m going to kill you’.

Jacob Doinhardt, (pictured) has been sentenced to eight years in prison for stabbing brothers Nicholas and Jordan Feast during a brawl between their families on Father’s Day, 2020

Jordan wrote in his victim impact statement that he feared for his life during the attack and has been left with permanent scars, while Nicholas wrote that he is now more wary of strangers.

Judge Allen described Donhardt’s use of a knife in the brawl as disproportionate and dangerous.

‘The danger of the use of a knife in a licensed premises is self-evident in what came to pass this Father’s Day afternoon,’ he said. 

Donhardt had been given a suspended sentence for committing a knifepoint robbery just four weeks prior to the brawl.