REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Thursday, February 24, 2005

STEVEN Hughes said he suffered a broken back, nose, eye socket and teeth at the hands of five nightclub bouncers, but five months later police were yet to lay charges.

The 28-year-old could not work for three months after the September 20, 2004 incident and faced thousands of dollars in medical bills.

The Ashmore man, who still bore a black eye from the injuries, also suffered nerve pain in his lower back associated with the two broken vertebrae and was still undergoing physiotherapy.

Mr Hughes, who managed the family business Chooky’s in Ashmore, said he was at The Drink nightclub when he asked security guards why they were escorting his cousin from the premises.

“I asked a question and they just punched me in the face,” he said.

“There were a few bouncers plus some off-duty guys as well, about five altogether.

“They had me in the lift and were just smashing into me. Finally they left me just lying there.”

Mr Hughes said police arrived at the club but only took statements from the bouncers. He said after lying bloody on the ground for 30 minutes, a police officer told him he would be arrested if he did not leave. “I couldn’t move,” he said. “My back was broken and they were going to arrest me for not walking away. They didn’t even ask me my side of the story.”

Mr Hughes said he called an ambulance and was admitted to hospital that night.

He said as soon as he left hospital he went to the police station to file a complaint.