Fake ‘veterinary surgeon’ on the run
ALEXANDRA – 'Vet' kills a dog and rams its owner with his vehicle.
The Alexandra Magistrates’ Court issued a warrant of arrest of a 66-year-old man for failing to appear on a charge of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm to a 68-year-old victim.
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The two were friends for some time. When issuing the warrant, the court took into account that the accused who was out on bail also defaulted on several scheduled court hearings and risks forfeiting the bail to the state.
Accused Anthony Balomenos’ charges stem from an incident on 17 April last year in which he allegedly and deliberately bumped the victim with his vehicle in Woodmead breaking his one leg and lacerating the other one before driving away. Witnesses called an ambulance which took the victim to a hospital for treatment.
The tiff between them was triggered the same month when the accused, who posed as a veterinary surgeon, operated on the victim’s dog which earned him money through a motor vehicle advert. The sick dog died from the operation. souring their relationship.
The two met at a robot in Woodmead the day of the incident while driving in separate vehicles. The accused allegedly threatened to kill the victim and they agreed to park on the roadside to talk about their differences. The victim drove on, parked on the roadside and leaned on his vehicle while waiting for the accused who came and allegedly bumped him inflicting the injuries.
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The suspect allegedly drove on leaving the victim writhing in pain on the ground until the ambulance took him to hospital. The accused was arrested on 5 May and granted bail and he also laid a counter charge of intimidation against the victim.
The case was drawn out due to postponements when he missed several hearings and changed lawyers repeatedly. He was also found to have had brushes with the law in 2011 and convicted in 2015 for posing and working as a vet unlawfully.
