Two brothers who attacked their oldest sibling at a family gathering in Inverness were spared a jail sentence yesterday.
Damien, 25, and 20-year-old Richard Wilson head-butted, punched and kicked brother Michael on the head and body to his severe injury on July 2 last year.
Their 26-year-old brother was left with broken cheek bones and a fractured jaw as a result of the attack.
He was also left unconscious after Damien of Woodlands Court, grabbed him in a choke hold.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told there was a history of bad blood within the family involving Michael Wilson.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell, acting for Richard Wilson, said words had been exchanged on social media before Michael Wilson turned up at his parent’s home in “an aggressive manner.”
Michael had to be brought round by paramedics who had been called to the scene at Birchwood Brae with police by the Wilson parents.
Fiscal depute David Morton previously told the court that the brothers had been drinking at the property when Michael went out to the hallway, followed by Richard, of Woodlands Terrace, and Damien.
He added: “They began hitting their brother, he was head-butted and then kicked on the head and body. Their parents witnessed it taking place. Michael managed to stumble out of the property into the garden and picked up a piece of fencing to hold Richard back.
“But Damien had come in to the garden as well and held Michael round the neck in a choke hold. His breathing was restricted and he felt that he might die.
“When paramedics arrived, he was unconscious and taken to Raigmore Hospital for his injuries, which a doctor described as serious.”
Representing Damien, defence lawyer Neil Wilson said: “This was not a confrontation of his own making but it went beyond self defence.”
Both brothers were ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to prison. Richard Wilson was also placed under six months social work supervision.
