Marking a somewhat macabre return to normality after two years in limbo, antisocial pub patrons around the country are finding fresh convictions for bad behaviour.
A man allegedly stabbed another man outside a Canberra pub, but has been granted bail.
26-year-old Hayden Todkill had reportedly been at a birthday event on a party boat, in March. After the cruise the group went to continue partying at The Dock, nearby.
Todkill allegedly began arguing at the bar with another partygoer, before challenging him to “go outside” according to documents presented in court. Once outside the men began fighting, and others became involved.
CCTV footage from nearby buildings shown in court caught Todkill falling and hitting his head, but while there was no footage of the actual stabbing, the other man is later seen with wounds to his chest.
Appearing before the ACT Magistrates Court this week on charges of attempted murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm, Todkill’s lawyer argued his client was acting in self-defence.
The prosecution countered that the victim had been stabbed multiple times in the abdomen and chest.
Magistrate James Lawton noted that while Todkill had engaged willingly, he had become overwhelmed and attempted to get away, and ultimately agreed with the defence. The case will return to court in May.
A man has broken down in court, accused of assault outside a pub in Logan Village that left another man in a coma.
33-year-old Crestmead sandblaster Beau Daniel Brookes was charged with grievous bodily harm after an alleged altercation on 23 April outside the Albert St venue.
In documents tendered to Beenleigh Magistrates Court this week, Brookes is said to have walked up to a man on the street and punched him to the side of the head.
The victim fell to the footpath, unconscious. He was transported to hospital and found to have a fractured skull and bleeding to the brain, and said to be still in a coma in the intensive care ward.
Police executed a search warrant at Brookes’ home the next day, after which he was further charged with possessing dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, and possessing utensils or paraphernalia.
Appearing while still in custody, police prosecutor Tahlia Boettcher noted a “propensity for violence” and cited his several drug offences and that he was still on probation at the time of the incident.
Magistrate Terry Duroux denied application for bail, saying he was an unacceptable risk to reoffend. He will remain remanded in custody to appear again 22 June.
On hearing the decision, Brookes broke down in tears in the dock.
A Dubbo kitchen worker has been charged with sexually touching another person without consent.
According to documents tendered in evidence, 47-year-old father Michael Hill was at a birthday celebration for a family member at the Western Star, where he made inappropriate sexual remarks to several women, even suggesting to his future victim they did “porn” together.
Later finding the woman outside he is said to have asked for a kiss before forcing himself on her, before she could respond, and sliding his hand inside her clothing, groping her groin.
The distressed woman told friends, before leaving the venue. The next day she made a report to Dubbo police. At the request of police Hill attended the station, and was arrested and charged.
Appearing in Dubbo Local Court this week, he pleaded guilty, while his solicitor proffered that he had struggled with alcohol for years.
Magistrate Theresa Hamilton decreed that Hill had certainly crossed the Section 5 threshold, where a prison term must apply, convicting and sentencing him to an eight-month intensive corrections order.
He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and drug and alcohol counselling.
A woman has been jailed, after multiple violent incidents in venues this year alone, the latest where she king-hit another woman in the back of the head with a glass.
21-year-old Tahlee-Lee Bennett of Kurnell was reported to have been with a friend at Northies Hotel on 28 February.
The girls were in a stall, with the door open, when another patron not known to them entered the bathroom. Suspecting the women of taking drugs, she suggested they close the door. Bennett reportedly swore and closed the door.
The woman returned to her seat and friends, but CCTV footage captured the moment soon after when Bennett approached and struck her in the back of the head with a glass, and then again before she was pulled away by staff and security.
The shattered glass knocked the woman out and an ambulance was called. She was taken to Sutherland Hospital with minor lacerations.
Bennett and her friend left the hotel. Police were called, and soon found Bennett in a nearby laneway, and in possession of a knife. She was arrested, taken to the police station and charged.
This incident followed one on 6 January, when Bennett was reportedly out with her brother and sister-in-law at a Lake Macquarie tavern, where she got into an altercation. Asked to leave by security, she refused and assaulted the guard.
Her brother removed her and she was restrained until police arrived, whereby she struck an officer.
Just two weeks later, out celebrating her 21st birthday with friends at Kurnell Recreation Club, a manager responded to noise in the gaming room, finding Bennett bleeding significantly from the hand, from where she had smashed a poker machine.
Asked to leave, she went on to strike and break the club’s glass front doors. Police and paramedics were called, finding her unresponsive in a pot plant, her hand bandaged by club staff.
Facing Sutherland Local Court this week, documents tendered put forward that she had spat at the ambulance officer and a police officer trying to help her.
Bennett pleaded guilty to charges related to the three incidents, including assault, resisting police, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing a knife.
Magistrate Philip Stewart took into account her age, prior lack of criminal history, and reported difficult upbringing, leading to issues with drugs and alcohol.
But he deemed the community risk was too great to avoid a jail sentence.
She was placed on a 12-month community corrections orders for the assaults on police and ambulance officers, and sentenced to 18 months’ prison.
She will be eligible for parole after at least six months, in late August.