The Gold Coast Bulletin

Accused claim ‘he started it’ M1 bashing victim blamed in court for argument

- SOPHIE CHIRGWIN

TWO men accused of a sickening road rage assault that left a tradie fighting for his life in a coma allege the Gold Coast man initiated the fight.

Lawyers for Jordan Baklas, 27, and Ryan Hallifax, 28, yesterday claimed a metal pole allegedly used in the attack was a concrete scraper belonging to Brock Prime.

Mr Prime, 29, is in a stable but life-threatenin­g condition in hospital with a suspected fractured skull and broken leg from the assault on the M1 Motorway on February 24.

In a combined hearing yesterday, defence lawyers Jon Ide and David Gilmore claimed Mr Prime had started the verbal altercatio­n, which turned into a fight, and ended with the concreter being left on the side of the highway in a critical condition.

The lawyers told magistrate Brian Kucks there was no evidence their clients touched the weapon.

Baklas and Hallifax were granted bail yesterday at the Beenleigh Magistrate­s Court, under strict conditions.

In opposing the bail, police prosecutor Sergeant Ellen French argued the pair had displayed an inability to maintain self-control and “had chosen to take matters into their own hands”.

But she also said the 29year-old victim had produced the weapon that was eventually taken from him and used in the attack.

Last week, the court was told Mr Prime might die from his injuries, with the prosecutio­n warning that the charges could be upgraded once more is known of his condition.

Mr Ide and Mr Gilmore told the court that their clients played a minor role in the assault.

Mr Gilmore said Hallifax played the “least role of anyone involved”.

“He might have punched the complainan­t once at most,” Mr Gilmore said in court.

He also told the magistrate that police placed an officer covertly in Hallifax’s cell, where he maintained the same story.

Outside court, Mr Ide said Baklas would contest the charge of grievous bodily harm when the matter returns to court.

“Of course they are (remorseful); they’re very upset at what’s happened and they’ve found themselves in this situation.”

Jonathan Lawrence – the third man accused of the offence, who did not apply for bail – will have his matter heard with the pair on May 2.

 ??  ?? Ryan Hallifax leaves the Logan District Watchhouse. Pictures: AAP
Ryan Hallifax leaves the Logan District Watchhouse. Pictures: AAP
 ??  ?? Jordan Baklas.
Jordan Baklas.

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