An inmate at the Mount Gambier Prison returned to his Christian faith after a life of violent crimes.


A Millicent audience recently heard the broad details of the man’s chequered life from his defence lawyer.


Jonathan Brohier addressed the latest quarterly breakfast gathering of the Millicent Men’s Church Fellowship at the Millicent Baptist Church.


Mr Brohier said the unidentified inmate’s previous happy life with a wife, children, church going and a steady job had been shattered after falling in with the “wrong crowd”.


He said this led to drug-taking, debt, violence and a lengthy prison sentence.


However, the Christian religion’s capacity for forgiveness was the turning point for the inmate.


Since his release from prison, he has returned to church and become a successful author of books and Christian songs.


One of his taped songs was played to the breakfast gathering.


Formerly with DeGaris Lawyers in Mount Gambier, Mr Brohier has worked as a criminal defence lawyer for the past eight years and is nowadays based in Adelaide.


He also re-counted the Christian journey of a client at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court.


Fellow Adelaide resident and long-time friend Matt Ewers also addressed the breakfast gathering with forgiveness as his theme.


Mr Ewers explained how his promising football career had been blighted after his opponent had smashed his jaw in a behind-the-play incident.


There was no doubt as to his guilt as the incident was captured on video.


Mr Ewers referenced his Christian faith when he decided to forgive his opponent’s indiscretion and accepted his apology.


“I told him to never do it again,” Mr Ewers said.


The two addresses lasted a total of 30 minutes and the pair also spoke at the regular Sunday service the following morning at the Millicent Baptist Church.


They spent the weekend in Millicent as they are good friends with the church’s Pastor Simun Lalich.