Lawyer’s defence of drink-driver client doesn’t pass pub test

A HINCHINBROOK man has admitted to being under the influence of alcohol when his van struck a North Queensland pub.

Abergowrie man Michael Andrew Barra, 53, appeared in Ingham Magistrates Court last week in relation to the incident on June 8. Police prosecutor Subarna Raut said a member of the public flagged down police driving through Trebonne at 7.30pm “to report a vehicle had crashed into the hotel across the road about 20 minutes earlier”.

“The informant advised police that a male person was still sitting inside the vehicle,” he said. “Police then approached the vehicle, a white Toyota van, and observed the driver in an upright position … with his seatbelt on and secured, the keys were in the ignition and an empty bottle of wine was resting on the seat between the driver’s legs.”

Mr Raut said the vehicle had struck a hardwood timber sunshade attached to the western side of the Trebonne Hotel, although damage was minimal.

Barra recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.328. Defence lawyer Darren Robinson, in response to a question from Magistrate Peter Smid, confirmed that his client was driving home via Trebonne “and realised he couldn’t make it”.

“And he decided to stop,” Magistrate Smid said, crashing into a pub?”

“Yes your honour,” Mr Robinson said, adding that the incident was an “aberration”.

Barra was convicted, fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 15 months, minus the two already served. “by