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National

Canberra killer Danny Klobucar sentenced to jail for 'vigilante-style' attack on man he believed hurt a child

Danny Klobucar was previously found not guilty by reason of mental impairment for fatally bashing a Canberra grandfather he believed was a paedophile. (ABC News: Tom Lowrey)

A 34-year-old Canberra man who choked a man he suspected of harming a child will serve two more months in prison.

Danny Klobucar entered the victim's home in Conder in Canberra's south in May last year and choked the man inside, after being told he had burnt Klobucar's then-partner's child with a cigarette.

The ACT Magistrates Court heard the victim was choked by Klobucar until he was unconscious and had defecated himself, despite telling Klobucar the mark on the child was from ringworm.

In 2014, Klobucar bashed to death a Canberra grandfather he wrongly suspected of being a paedophile.

He was found not guilty by reason of mental impairment of murder as he was suffering from schizophrenia.

Prosecutor Lewis Etheredge raised concerns to the court about the similarities between the two offences, calling the latest incident a "vigilante-style retribution attack".

He said there was no evidence of remorse or of an apology to the victim from Klobucar, and that he remained a serious risk to public safety.

The court also heard from Klobucar's victim, who said the assault had a significant impact on his life.

"Every time I close my eyes I have intrusive thoughts about the assault," he said.

"I cannot go to restaurants or gatherings … I am afraid to answer the door."

He said along with the mental injury of Mr Klobucar's assault, he also developed a neck injury.

"I cannot move my neck around fast because of what happened," he told the court.

"I am yet to receive medical attention for this because I am not comfortable with someone touching my neck."

But Klobucar's defence lawyer Travis Jackson told the court there was no medical evidence the complainant's neck injury was caused by Klobucar.

Magistrate Robert Cook told the court Klobucar has stated the offence was a massive error, and acknowledged he should have contacted police if he had concerns for the child.

He sentenced Klobucar to a 19-month prison sentence for the incident, which includes a seven-month suspended sentence, meaning he will be released at the end of May this year.

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