Hotel basher avoids jail

Punch to the head leaves victim with fractured skull and brain bleed

A TASMANIAN man has received a wholly suspended prison sentence for assaulting a stranger at a Hobart pub which left the man with damage including a skull fracture and a bleed on the brain.

In the Supreme Court in Hobart before Justice Stephen Estcourt, Rahn Marcus Hansson, 31, had pleaded guilty to one count of assault.

The court heard about 1.30am on June 30, 2018, Hansson and the complainant, who were not known to each other, were at the Waratah Hotel on Murray St.

Hansson got into an argument with the complainant’s brother, which was escalating when the complainant attempted to calm the situation down.

Hansson punched the complainant in the head and he fell to the floor and was unconscious soon after.

The court heard Hansson stayed at the scene and spoke to the police before he was arrested and detained until he was sober enough to be interviewed.

The complainant’s injuries included a skull fracture with blood in the middle ear, contusions of the left frontal and temporal lobes of the brain and also a bleed into the brain.

He had post- traumatic amnesia for six days, mild difficulties with language and mild cognitive deficits.

The court heard after inpatient rehabilitation, he still had some symptoms including headaches and dizziness.

The complainant had since effectively made a full recovery, the court heard.

A victim impact statement said he was “profoundly affected” for at least six months, could not work for two months and was worried that he might be left with a permanent disability.

Justice Estcourt said a presentence report had stated Hansson had said immediately prior to the punch he was “assaulted by three men after he was trying to help an intoxicated and emotionally distressed woman”.

“The defendant’s immediate reaction contained concern for the complainant and this was noted by attending police officers,” Justice Estcourt said.

“One officer stated the defendant approached him as soon as he arrived at the scene and volunteered that he had assaulted the complainant. The officer further stated that Mr Hansson said that he was sorry and that he was not sure why he had done what he had done.”

Hansson was convicted and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for two years on condition he not commit another offence and perform 98 hours of community service.