Just seventeen minutes after violently attacking his father with a baseball bat, Aaron Bernath made a call for an ambulance. He described the situation to paramedics as a “bad slip,” claiming his father had fallen off the couch and was merely “having a bit of a rest.”

This deceptive narrative was only the beginning of Bernath’s attempts to cover up his heinous act. Despite the gravity of his actions, the 36-year-old initially tried to mislead investigators, sticking to his fabricated story even as the evidence mounted against him.

Attempting to evade justice, Bernath went as far as to carry his case to trial, presenting a false defense. He alleged that his father, who was significantly older, smaller, and weaker, had provoked him, forcing Bernath to act in self-defense.

However, Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney saw through Bernath’s web of lies. In a decisive ruling, Justice Tinney sentenced Bernath to a maximum of 28 years in prison, ensuring that his deceitful tactics would not allow him to escape accountability for his actions.

He claimed his much older, smaller and weaker father had provoked him and he was acting in self-defence.

Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney rejected Bernath’s repeated lies as he threw him behind bars for up to 28 years today.

“Having inflicted these horrific injuries upon him, your reaction was to wait for 17 minutes before calling for assistance and you then lied to a triple-zero operator about what happened,” he said.

“I am satisfied that even now, getting up towards two years since your crime, you continue to feel no regret or sadness about what you did.”

George had invited his son to live with him at his Maddingley home, in Melbourne’s west, after Bernath broke up with his partner.

Bernath said their relationship became increasingly tense as his father wanted him to move out because he was not paying rent.

He scratched his father’s Mustang a few months before committing murder.

About 7.20pm on January 11, 2024, yelling and swearing was heard coming from the home, as well as six to eight “loud impact” sounds, Justice Tinney said.

Bernath swung a baseball bat at his father’s head at least three times, causing significant blood loss and blunt force trauma to his brain and skull, he said an autopsy found.

He used so much force that the bat was cracked along its handle.

George was airlifted to The Alfred hospital, where he died the next day.

After his father was taken to hospital, Bernath locked all of the doors, hid the baseball bat, took a shower and placed his clothing in the washing machine.

Police called him about 8.40pm and asked him to come outside.

Bernath walked out freshly dressed and acted calm as he spoke to them leaning against a wall.

“Aaron, how are you mate?,” an officer asked him, according to body warn camera footage.

“Yeah good mate,” Bernath replied.

Justice Tinney slammed Bernath’s lies to the jury in his trial – that his father had threatened to kill him with the bat and he was acting in self-defence – before he was convicted of murder in May.

“I am satisfied there is absolutely no truth to the claim you made,” he said.

“It is preposterous to think a man in his 60s, good enough to permit you to live rent free, would’ve launched an attack on you with a baseball bat on so little provocation.

“You were prepared to brutally murder your father for no apparent reason.”

He said Bernath attacked his father with “considerable ferocity” and committed a “callous” and “abhorrent” domestic murder in a place where George should have felt safe, and protected.

Bernath, who has already spent more than 18 months behind bars, will be eligible for parole after 23 years.

Support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.