Workmates say booze to blame for melee

A GROUP of workmates are paying for a violent brawl at a boozy Christmas party after being slapped a combined $12,000 in fines.

Boilermakers Matthew Giles, Todd Broughton and Deni Nadjovski appeared before Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with assault-related offences.

The court heard the trio, who had never been in trouble with the law before, had been celebrating the end of a hard year by drinking dozens of beers and partying at a number of CBD venues on December 21 last year.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable David Vanderpol said the group was at Beav’s Bar about 11pm when a heavily intoxicated Nadjovski pushed a security guard and was asked to leave.

Nadjovski, who pleaded guilty to three counts of assault and refusing to leave a licensed venue, did not leave and instead started arguing with se- curity. He was eventually pushed out of the bar when his workmate and co-offender Broughton rushed to his aid and started wrestling security. Nadjovski started swinging punches and tried to hit a number of guards.

Giles — who pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful assault — knocked his head during the brawl and required medical attention, the court heard.

Broughton, who pleaded guilty to reckless conduct causing injury, knocked a female security guard to the ground.

The court heard two guards — including the injured female — spent the night in the emergency department, while another suffered a broken tooth after being attacked by the men.

Lawyers for the men said their clients couldn’t remember the night, with Broughton admitting to drinking about 30 beers.

Magistrate John Lesser named Nadjovski as the main offender in the affray, with