Scans for brain activity
Charges may be upgraded in M1 bashing case
A GOLD COAST man bashed in a road rage attack on the M1 will undergo brain activity scans in the next two days.
Brock Prime, 29, suffered a severe head injury and a broken leg when allegedly assaulted by a group of up to 13 men on the side of the M1 near Yatala on Saturday night.
Mr Prime remains in a medically-induced coma at Gold Coast University Hospital, with doctors having told the family his brain injury is life-threatening.
One of three men accused of the attack, Ryan Hallifax, appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court yesterday after being charged with grievous bodily harm. A bail application for the 28-year-old Upper Coomera man has been adjourned until Friday given the uncertainty over Mr Prime’s health.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Karen Friedrichs told the court charges against Hallifax could be upgraded if tests on Mr Prime’s brain indicate he will not recover.
“The result of the brain function test may not be positive,” Sgt Friedrichs said.
“The charge may be subject to an upgrade ... it’s not appropriate for an application for bail to be considered at this time.”
Magistrate Jim Keogh agreed, saying the court had a duty to inquire on the nature of Mr Prime’s injuries and whether he is likely to recover.
Hallifax has been remanded in custody and his matter adjourned to Friday. The two other men charged over the incident also had their matters mentioned in the same court yesterday.
Jordan Baklas, 26, did not appear, with lawyer Jon Ide also adjourning his client’s matter until Friday.
Outside court an unnamed family friend of Mr Baklas told reporters his family was “as well as can be”.
The third man charged, Johnathan Lawrence, also made no appearance as his matter was adjourned until May 2.
The 27-year-old has been remanded in custody, just over a year after he slammed the sentence given to a man who killed his daughter as “disgusting”. Lawrence’s three-yearold daughter Bella died after she was stomped on by the expartner of her mother in September 2015.