Stint in jail after assaults

A CAIRNS man who attacked his jail cellmate and threw a full beer bottle at his sister, causing significant injuries to both people, has been handed a 5½-year prison sentence.

Ricky James Cowan’s hearing resumed in the Cairns District Court yesterday after he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and malicious act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

His father, also Ricky Cowan, is before the court for an unrelated matter, accused of the stabbing murder of his long-term partner Crystal Ratcliffe in October 2016.

The court heard that, while serving time at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre in 2015, 30-year-old Cowan Jr threw a cup of hot water over his cellmate and punched him in the face during an altercation in the exercise yard. The man re- ceived several injuries, including having a tooth removed.

Then, almost 18 months later, the court heard Cowan Jr was at a family barbecue following his stepmother’s (Ratcliffe) funeral where he assaulted his sister, including throwing a full glass beer bottle at her head.

The bottle broke on impact, causing serious injuries to her face, which required surgery and a night in hospital for recovery.

Judge Tracy Fantin said in a victim impact statement submitted to the court, Cowan Jr’s sister told how she “had nightmares about what happened” and “felt ashamed of the injuries”, which included facial scarring.

“She had a right to feel safe in a home environment and it was a gross abuse of trust for you to be violent against her in that way,” she said.

A parole eligibility date was set for August 29 this year.