Lifesaver who threw a speaker at a woman’s head had been drinking heavily after learning his close friend had been mauled to death by a great white shark
- Robin ‘Rob’ Pedretti had his leg viciously attacked by a three-metre great white
- The 60-year-old died of his injuries on Salt Beach in northern New South Wales
- Barry Wood, assaulted a woman while drunk after learning of the tragedy
A lifesaver mourning the death of his mate killed in a shark attack became so drunk he threw a speaker at a woman’s head before breaking into her home.
Barry Wood was in Geelong, Victoria, on Sunday night when he learned Robin ‘Rob’ Pedretti, 60, had his leg viciously mauled by a three-metre great white while surfing earlier that day at Salt Beach, near Kingscliff, in far northern New South Wales.
Mr Pedretti, a retired tradesman from the Gold Coast, died on the beach from his injuries a short time later.
Wood, from Tweed Heads in northern NSW, had been heavily drinking at 9.30pm after hearing the tragic news.
Robin ‘Rob’ Pedretti (pictured), 60, had his leg viciously attacked while surfing at Salt Beach near Kingscliff in far northern New South Wales on Sunday
The pair knew each other due to Wood’s position as a lifesaver, the Geelong Advertiser reported.
Wood had threatened to kill the woman, who was known to him earlier in the night, the court was told.
He hit her in the head with a speaker after a heavy drinking session leaving her with minor bruises.
Wood was arrested and taken to Geelong Police Station where he was handed an intervention order.
The order banned him from contacting the woman.
But after being released from custody he went to the woman’s home and broke in while she wasn’t there.
He was arrested once again.
Wood’s defence lawyer Richard Jakobson told the court his client went into a ‘spiral’ after learning of his friend’s death and began drinking.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie said while he was sorry for Wood’s loss it did not excuse his behaviour.
Surfers and friends of Mr Pedretti (pictured) gathered at his favourite surfing break at Tugan on Monday to mourn the ‘gentle giant’, where they insisted he wouldn’t want the three-metre predator to be culled
He issued Wood an 18-month good behaviour bond and fined him $500.
No conviction was recorded.
Wood must also complete a behaviour change program for men.
Surfers and friends of Mr Pedretti gathered at his favourite surfing break at Tugan on Monday to mourn the ‘gentle giant’, where they insisted he wouldn’t want the three metre predator to be culled.
Mr Pedretti from the Gold Coast died on the beach from his injuries a short time later. Pictured: the scene after the retired tradie’s death
Barry Wood, from Tweed Heads in northern NSW, learned of his mate’s death while in Geelong, Victoria, on Sunday night. Pictured: the shark
Tributes were also laid at the beach south of the border where he spent his final moments.
‘He was everyone’s mate. He loved surfing and he loved life,’ Craig Tulloch told reporters on Monday.
‘Loved surfing, loved life. He was starting to enjoy life in retirement.’