Allen Victor Zappelli, 44, sentenced after making threats to kill neighbours and breaching restraining order

An East Bunbury man, who threatened to kill his neighbours by taking them out on a boat with concrete slabs and throwing them into the water after an argument about a cat days earlier, has avoided jail. Allen Victor Zappelli, 44, was given a suspended sentence at Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday, on one charge of making a threat to unlawfully do an act and two charges of breaching a violence restraining order. Police prosecutor Sgt Jane Gillham told the court Mr Zappelli and his 61 and 67-year-old neighbours had lived next to each for 10 years. On July 6, Mr Zappelli made a number of threats at various times towards one of the neighbours. In one instance, he said “for $100, I’m going to get the bikies to blow you up...” In another instance, he threatened to take the victim out on a boat with concrete slabs and throw them into the water. On the final occasion, he threatened to kill his neighbour’s son and burn a vehicle belonging to them. The threats were all recorded by one of the neighbours on a mobile device. When police searched his house that night, they located a realistic rifle inside, though the prosecution noted it was not usable for ammunition. A violence restraining order was imposed on Mr Zappelli as a result of the incident. About two weeks later on July 21, police were conducting investigations into an incident which involved Mr Zappelli and his neighbours. Officers first attended the neighbours’ property, with plans of speaking to Mr Zappelli afterwards. Within minutes of arriving, officers heard Mr Zappelli outside the house and he was located on the verge of their property. He insisted authorities speak to his lawyer, but was told he would be spoken to later and to leave. Mr Zappelli ignored the orders and when officers had a second conversation with him, he continued to insist they speak to his laywer. He was subsequently arrested. His defence lawyer Michael Devlin told the court the argument between Mr Zappelli and his neighbours had started over a cat, with June 30 being described as the “watershed day”. Mr Devlin said Mr Zappelli had issues with alcohol and had gone “cold turkey” from drinking following the incidents, and insisted on continuing his abstinence from drinking. He has also been seeking treatment from a psychologist. The court was told Mr Zappelli was currently not living at the address but would transist back to the property “over a period of time”. His parents are currently taking care of a cat which resides at the East Bunbury house. He told the court he has plans to sell the property. In her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Joanne Andretich said Mr Zappelli’s threats were “particularly serious”. “They must be absolutely terrified — they are elderly people,” she said. “This has largely come about due to your inability to restrain yourself under the influence of alcohol.” She described Mr Zappelli’s decision to abstain from drinking as a “good thing”. He received a 10-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the three offences. Mr Zappelli’s neighbours were also granted a two-year restraining order against him.