Juror attack delays trial

A ONE-PUNCH trial in the Southport District Court had to be abandoned when a juror was unable to show up after being king-hit on a night out.

The juror, who cannot be named, suffered serious head injuries when bashed on the Glitter Strip.

When he didn’t arrive at court the following morning to decide the charge against John

Albert Oakley – for an alleged assault on his neighbour – the trial was thrown out.

But after a fresh two-day trial and deliberations by the new jury, Mr Oakley was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to William Sorrell on October 16, 2017.

“It turned my life upside down for a couple of years but I’m glad they actually saw reason and sense,” an emotional

Mr Oakley said outside court. “I didn’t mean to hurt the guy. I was just defending myself.”

The two men – who were the only ones present at the time of the incident – had vastly different accounts.

Mr Sorrell, who has a brain injury, alleged Mr Oakley punched him after the pair were smoking “bongs” at a Carrara caravan park.

He said that he was sitting at the time and told Mr Oakley to “shut up, rip your f---king cone” after he began “whingeing” at him.

Mr Sorrell said he was then struck to the face.

He said that it would have been different had he been standing.

But Mr Oakley told a different story – that he was acting in self-defence – one the jury ultimately believed.

He denied ever smoking cannabis with his neighbour.

In body-cam footage played to the court, Mr Oakley told officers Mr Sorrell came into his caravan and tried to “stand over” him for his dinner.

“I asked him to leave at least three times,” he said.

Mr Oakley said he became irate when Mr Sorrell began speaking about his daughter.

“He said something about wanting to sleep with her,” he said.

He told police he went to get up and Mr Sorrell threw a punch.

He said he ducked and then punched him back.

Defence barrister Debra Wardle said to the jury: “What would you do if someone came into your home, would not leave, was making demands, saying inflammatory things about your child, and threw a punch at you?”

Mr Oakley cried as the verdict was delivered.