An Australian father filmed strangling a teenage boy in March says he was provoked as he tried to defend his step-daughter, who he says was being bullied by the boy.
Brisbane man Mark Bladen, 53, told 60 Minutes that despite regretting the skate park attack, he felt had no choice but to stand up for his harassed step-daughter, Kalani.
For more than six months, Kalani was subjected to abuse at school and on social media, pushed and spat on, with her parents growing increasingly distressed.
"[I was] insulted about my body hair…called names like gorilla," she said.
Kalani reached breaking point one day and called her stepf-father in tears, with Mr Bladen choosing to take action after the phone call.
"I just went over there to give him a good old fashioned talking to, I wanted to belittle him in front of his friends, the same way he always did with Kalani," Mr Bladen said.
The 53-year-old intended to leave but was overcome by anger when the boy smiled.
"He smiled at me," Mr Bladen said.
"And I warned him. I said, ‘You’d better wipe that smile off your face,’ and he just kept smiling."
"The next thing I knew my hands were around his neck."
In March, Mr Bladen was pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
He was fined $1000 but no criminal conviction was recorded with many in the public hailing the 53-year-old as a hero.
The bullying has since stopped.
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