COURT TOLD OF BRUTAL BASEBALL BAT ATTACK:
Drunk neighbour’s hit puts 14-year-old in hospital
A THUG is fighting to avoid jail for hitting a 14-year-old boy in the head with a baseball bat after storming an AFL Grand Final party in Geelong.
Ryan Raymer, 29, was among a group of up to seven men who invaded a Corio property on September 28 last year.
The County Court on Wednesday heard Raymer used a bat to strike the teenage victim, who fell and hit his head on a concrete driveway.
The boy suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, with the court told his injuries were “potentially” life-threatening.
Prosecutor Mark Regan said the “senseless” incident was sparked after a For Sale sign was touched outside Raymer’s home across the road.
Raymer, now of Dereel, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges including intentionally causing injury and aggravated burglary.
His older brother, Matthew Raymer, 31, of Norlane, was also involved in the group attack and pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and affray.
The court heard the siblings had been drinking heavily at a separate party 2km away when they were called to the scene by Ryan Raymer’s partner, who was “hysterical” and claiming that their house was being “smashed up”.
Mr Regan said the girlfriend had “greatly exaggerated” a minor incident involving four teenagers who were playing on the street.
He said two of the teens were imitating a famous scene from the Harry Potter movies when they ran into a For Sale sign. The sign was not damaged and the boys returned to their Grand Final party across the road, where a group of family and friends had gathered inside a garage.
A short time later, at about 7.30pm, a group of between five and seven men — including several armed with bats — charged into the Kosciusko Avenue property.
Ryan Raymer confronted the 14-year-old and said: “Were you the one touching my sign?” He used a bat to hit the boy in the head after the teen denied being responsible.
While the teen was on the ground, another man kicked him hard to the stomach, before a third member of the group warned him: “Don’t get up or I’ll stab you”.
The group then went into the garage where a group of adults and children were celebrating. A 15-year-old boy was also struck in the head with a baseball bat by an unknown offender, but avoided any significant injury.
The group eventually left the property while emergency services rushed to the scene.
The teen victim required neurosurgery and spent a week in the Royal Children's Hospital. Judge Gavan Meredith remarked on Wednesday that the boy was fortunate to have largely recovered from his injuries. “This could have been a lot worse,” he said.
Mr Regan has argued that jail is the only option for Ryan Raymer’s “outrageous” conduct.
But defence barrister Amie Hancock, for Ryan Raymer, said his family would face severe hardship if he was locked up. Ms Hancock said Raymer was remorseful for his actions, which occurred while heavily drunk.
Ryan and Matthew Raymer had their bail extended until a further hearing on August 19.