<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seventeen minutes after repeatedly bashing his father in the head with a baseball bat, a murderous son called for an ambulance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His dad had a "bad slip" after falling from the couch and was "having a bit of a rest", Aaron Bernath told paramedics.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the callous 36-year-old killer's lies did not end there.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/two-dead-underground-mine-explosion-far-west-nsw/4e39a4bc-ee81-481e-b5d1-0f9a1ec2abf6" target="_blank"><strong><span>Two dead after mine explosion near regional town</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bernath lied to police before he was charged with his father George's murder, and then took his case to trial using a dishonest defence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He claimed his much older, smaller and weaker father had provoked him and he was acting in self-defence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney rejected Bernath's repeated lies as he threw him behind bars for up to 28 years today.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/son-jailed-for-28-years-over-fathers-callous-killing/1604c838-c7c8-4c13-9205-a045aeab3ddd" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pauline-hansons-one-nation-to-change-name-to-one-nation/0e4a0580-8268-43d9-9c29-ba68efd50d71" target="_blank"><strong><span>Pauline Hanson changes party name as polling support surges</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>George had invited his son to live with him at his Maddingley home, in Melbourne's west, after Bernath broke up with his partner.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/medicare-bulk-billing-changes-australia-november-explained/0d3f161a-0dec-4861-aff4-7f440fb43984" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussies about to benefit from major $7.9 billion health boost</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bernath said their relationship became increasingly tense as his father wanted him to move out because he was not paying rent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He scratched his father's Mustang a few months before committing murder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He used so much force that the bat was cracked along its handle.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>George was airlifted to The Alfred hospital, where he died the next day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police called him about 8.40pm and asked him to come outside.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-news-presidency-third-term-usa/e5a868b6-7969-4c28-b21f-a5228844db80" target="_blank"><strong><span>The real reason Trump is dancing around a touchy subject</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bernath walked out freshly dressed and acted calm as he spoke to them leaning against a wall.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Aaron, how are you mate?," an officer asked him, according to body warn camera footage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Yeah good mate," Bernath replied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I am satisfied there is absolutely no truth to the claim you made," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You were prepared to brutally murder your father for no apparent reason."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bernath, who has already spent more than 18 months behind bars, will be eligible for parole after 23 years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>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.</span></strong></em></div></div>