Duo punished for melee

A COMMUNITY service order and jail time have been imposed on two men involved in a melee in which an offender escaped and a police officer was assaulted.

Abraham Joseph Roe Hunter, 23, and Leon Jessy Leigh Stretton, 27, each pleaded guilty to charges of serious assault of a police officer and obstructing a police officer resulting from a melee that happened at a birthday afterparty in Charters Towers on June 26 last year.

The court heard both men were at a house in Oxford St on June 29 last year when police were called at 4.30am regarding the assault of a woman.

The court heard that as police arrived at the scene they saw a group of 10 people from the party surrounding the woman, and witnessed her being assaulted by both Louise Rose Hunter and Clarissa Violet Grace Masso.

Police were attempting to speak with Louise Hunter at the scene when Abraham Hunter and Stretton placed themselves between police and the vehicle they were taking the woman to.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Amanda Lawson said the group at the Oxford St address began closing in on police and Hunter and Stretton were involved in rushing at one of the officers, pushing him as he attempted to go to the aid of a colleague and the woman.

Sgt Lawson said capsicum spray was deployed in order to prevent any further assault on police.

She said stepped back being hit by

Stretton was face.

She said Stretton then took a can of alcohol and attempted to throw it at the police officer, but capsicum spray was deployed again, which successfully prevented the can from

Hunter had and avoided the spray, but sprayed in the being thrown. During the scuffle, Louise Hunter fled the scene and was later located at her home.

The defence solicitor for Abraham Hunter, Rebecca Hudson, said he had been at the party in Oxford St and was intoxicated at the time police arrived. She said police were arresting his sister and that was why he intervened.

Magistrate Cathy Wadley convicted both men in relation to the offences.

“Police were dealing with a group of intoxicated adults and speaking with a female person when you began to interfere,” Ms Wadley said.

She sentenced

Hunter to four months’ imprisonment to be wholly suspended for 15 months.

Stretton was sentenced to 120 hours of community service, to be completed within 12 months.

Stretton was also convicted on a charge of failing to provide his details to police and was fined $100.

Louise Hunter and Clarissa Masso were each convicted in July last year by Magistrate Steven Mosch in relation to their involvement in the melee.

Louise Hunter was sentenced to 120 hours of community service for assault occasioning bodily harm, obstructing police and the serious assault of police.

Clarissa Masso received 80 hours of community service for two charges of common assault.

Leroy Donald John Masso, 23, and Peter James Reid, 22, were also charged in relation to the incident and pleaded guilty in July 2019.

Leroy Masso pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offence, obstructing police and the serious assault of a police officer.

Reid was convicted of a public nuisance offence, obstructing police and assaulting a police officer.

Each man was sentenced to 80 hours’ community service.