Bashed for saying g’day

A MAN was bashed by two teenagers as he was walking home at night over a perceived slight at a McDonald’s restaurant, a court has heard.

Sean Reece Gorry and Jordan William Claus, both of whom were 19 at the time of the attack but are now 20, faced Townsville District Court yesterday to be sentenced for grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that on June 30, 2017, the 32- year- old victim had caught a bus to Stockland after working a night shift and then went to have a meal at McDonald’s before walking home.

Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said before he entered, the victim had a brief exchange with Gorry.

“He said ‘ g’day’ or words to that effect to Gorry and it seems that Gorry has perceived this as some sort of slight,” she said.

Ms Sheppard said the victim walked home about 11.15pm along Beatrice St in Aitkenvale and heard someone say “that is the f--- head who called me names at McDonald’s”.

“Gorry and Claus have stood up from where they were sitting and approached the complainant,” she said.

“Gorry has followed the complainant, walked on the opposite side of the road and Claus has ran behind and tackled the complainant.”

Ms Sheppard said the victim felt multiple punches to the right hand side of the face while on the ground, with the attack lasting two to three minutes.

“One of the defendants he described was punching his face while the other was effectively holding him down at his ribs,” she said.

The court heard that the victim received a serious eye injury as a result of the attack, requiring surgery, and experienced double vision and a reduced range of eye movement.

Defence barrister Darrin Honchin, representing Claus, said his client had only had a few drinks that day but added that he show a “genuine inability to recall” much of the incident.

Judge Paul Smith questioned Honchin over Claus’s claim to not recall much of the incident.

“It’s an unusual thing if he hasn’t had much to drink or drugs,” he said.

Defence barrister Michael Hibble, representing Gorry, said his client accepted he was equally responsible for the injuries.

“When he was interviewed, he lied, make no mistake, he tried to protect himself,” he said.

“He knew he’d done the wrong thing, he tried to give a self- serving account.”

Judge Smith sentenced both defendants to three years imprisonment, with them required to serve eight months in jail.

“The people of Townsville should be allowed to walk home at night without being viciously assaulted,” he said.

Family members cried in court as the sentence was handed down.