Alcohol-fuelled violence makes Sunshine Coast unsafe
Sat 19 May 2007
John Hammond, Journalism
Gratuitous street violence resulted in a jail sentence for a 23-year-old apprentice plumber when he appeared in the Maroochydore District Court yesterday.
The court heard Jamie Alec Kaey pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing bodily harm in company on March 10, 2006, for “king-hitting” Wayne David Hill. Mr Hill was with a family group which included children aged from six to 14 years.
Crown prosecutor Lily Brisick said Kaey was part of a group of youths emboldened by each other’s presence. The prosecution was seeking a custodial sentence of 18 months to two and a half years for what she described as an incident of gratuitous street violence.
Prosecutor Brisick told Judge Keith Dodds on the night in question the two groups had crossed paths about 10 pm on the hill between Noosa Heads and Noosa Junction. One of the youths slapped the bottom of Mr Hill’s wife.
The prosecution said Mr Hill and another male confronted the youths and heated words were exchanged. Kaey then ran up behind the complainant and swung a punch at his head. Another youth kicked Mr Hill in the face, knocking him out.
Four photos of Mr Hill’s injuries were produced. He suffered a broken jaw and five stitches in his upper lip.
Ms Brisick told the court a co-accused youth who kicked Mr Hill in the face had absconded to Western Australia.
Defence barrister Stephen Courtney said in mitigation the accused was held in high regard by those who knew him. Mr Hill’s injuries were caused by a single blow, there were no weapons involved and Kaey had good prospects of rehabilitation and had recently started a plumbing apprenticeship.
Mr Courtney said Kaey’s reason for the assault was he was drunk. “Alcohol had played a significant role in the events of the night.”
The defence sought a custodial sentence for the accused to be fully suspended. Kaey’s criminal history handed to the court included convictions for drugs, tainted property and public nuisance.
Judge Dodds said it was difficult to understand how Kaey could run up behind another man and when he was not looking hit him in the face.
“Many times a death has followed and a murder charge has been brought. This sort of violence is occurring too often in society. Intoxication is leading to a loss of inhibitions,” he said. “If not for Mr Hill’s wife catching her husband before his head hit the ground his injuries could have been far worse.”
In passing sentence Judge Dodds said he took into account Kaey’s early guilty plea and his recently commenced apprenticeship.
Kaey was sentenced to two years imprisonment, to be fully suspended and released on parole immediately. This result was met with audible sighs and tears by Kaey’s mother and girlfriend in the public gallery.
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