Convicted murderer denies jail assault

A BIKIE accused of assaulting a corrections officer has told Townsville Magistrates Court he wouldn’t admit to something he didn’t do.

“I pleaded guilty to two murders because I did it, I didn’t do this,” Lionel John Patea said.

The former Bandidos bikie was transferred from Lotus Glen Correctional Centre to Townsville Correctional Centre in January 2019.

He is serving two life sentences for murdering Gold Coast man Greg Dufty and his partner Tara Brown, the mother of his daughter.

Patea is accused of assaulted a Townsville corrections officer on the day he was brought to the Townsville prison.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault.

He became agitated after a CD player, which did not belong to Patea, was removed from his transferred belongings, the court heard.

The court heard Patea was taken to his cell, where he began to swear, and threaten officers who were attempting to cuff him and move him to the detention unit.

Prosecution used footage from body-worn cameras and CCTV footage to show Patea headbutting and kicking the cell door. When officers in helmets with a protective shield entered the cell, Patea allegedly grabbed hold of the shield and struck an officer.

In his evidence, Patea said footage prosecutor Kellie Mythen used to show him allegedly assaulting the officer was unclear.

Ms Mythen said the footage showed Patea hitting an officer with his elbow, but the former Bandidos enforcer disagreed.

“I wasn’t in the best headspace, but I tell you right now, I didn’t assault someone,” Patea said.

Magistrate Cathy Wadley said she would take time to consider the evidence and view the footage before making a decision.

No date is set for a ruling.