Businessman faces court for alleged assault on teenage son

A PROMINENT Gold Coast businessman grabbed his 13year-old son by the neck and pushed him into a window, a court was told.

The 50-year-old man was allegedly so forceful the teen’s shirt was ripped at the neck.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday on a single charge of assault occasioning bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Davina Cochrane said the man and his teenage son “had a heated conversation” about a dog walker about 6.30pm on May 30. The boy said something under his breath as he went into the bedroom, the court was told.

“(The man) grabbed the victim child around the neck and lifted him off his feet, holding him against the window,” she said.

Sgt Cochrane said the force ripped the boy’s shirt at the neck. The court was told the man later demanded the boy apologise to him for the way he spoke.

The boy told his mother the next morning who called child services and police, the court was told.

Sgt Cochrane said police searched the man’s home and found the boy’s ripped shirt.

The man’s lawyer Jason Jacobson, of Jacobson Mahony Lawyers, argued the man’s bail should be varied so he could have contact with his other son. “There is no proper basis for that to not continue.”

Mr Jacobson said the man was not a threat to influencing the younger boy as the boy was not present when his brother was allegedly attacked.

Magistrate Joan White agreed to change the bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned to July 16.