‘JUST WALK AWAY’
After two shocking CBD fights before Christmas, police plead:
TWO alleged assaults on the streets of the Cairns CBD at the weekend have police on full alert.
Police are determined that unsocial behaviour will not spoil Christmas festivities. They are warning revellers to behave and want to avoid any serious injuries or even deaths.
Far North Chief Supt Brian Huxley urged partygoers to “walk away” from intense situations.
“Sometimes it takes more courage to walk away from a situation than to stay there, “he said.
This comes as police quickly made arrests after two alleged attacks.
A Kuranda man, 48, is in custody after being charged with assault occasioning bodily harm after allegedly attacking a 61-year-old man in Shields St on Saturday about noon.
A 27-year-old Yorkeys man is in Cairns Hospital with a broken jaw after he was allegedly punched by a French tourist, who has been charged with grievous bodily harm after an argument in Lake St about 3am on Sunday. He has a January 8 court date.
A MAN who allegedly attacked a stranger outside a Cairns CBD pie shop, pulling him onto the ground where he slammed his head, has been remanded in custody after calling the police prosecutor a “pack rapist” during court proceedings.
David Allan Kassis, 48, is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, wilful damage and public nuisance over the alleged incident which occurred in Shields St around noon on Saturday.
The Kuranda man appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday where the court heard he had a twopage criminal history in Queensland, but a significant 60-page history in New South Wales including assaults, property and public nuisance offences.
Mr Kassis told the court he has spent 16 years removing metal nails from the side of the road between Sydney and Cairns and sometimes went without food for up to 18 hours.
He yelled “I don’t care if I go to jail” before he began abusing Acting Magistrate Raimund Heggie and police prosecutor Sen-Constable Trevor Woodman.
Acting Magistrate Heggie asked police to remove him from the dock and remanded him in custody.
The court heard Mr Kassis allegedly assaulted the 61year-old victim by pulling him forward by the shirt, causing him to hit the ground with “significant impact”.
Sen-Constable Trevor Woodman said the alleged incident was captured on CCTV.
The case was adjourned until January 6.