No jailNEWS for rage attack

A MAN once convicted for manslaughter has escaped a jail term for a second time after punching a stranger five times during a road rage attack.

A drunk Liam Rawhiti Bliss put his elbow through a windscreen and bashed the driver near Circle on Cavill in Surfers Paradise on January 29.

Bliss (pictured) was on a suspended sentence for an unrelated manslaughter conviction at the time.

The driver had tooted his horn at Bliss as he tried to walk across the road on a green traffic light about 9.30pm. The driver started to move forward and accidentally ran over Bliss’ foot. It was then Bliss struck.

After the beating, Bliss told the victim: “What is done is done.”

Witnesses alerted nearby police. A woman filmed the attack.

Bliss pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday to common assault and wilful damage.

The court was told the 30year-old was “embarrassed” by the road rage attack.

In 2018, Bliss was sentenced to five years’ prison, wholly suspended, after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of pool builder Greg Dufty.

A group of others were given jail time, including Lionel Patea, who pleaded guilty to murder. The court was told at the time he drove the car that included Lionel and Nathan Patea to the hinterland, where Mr Dufty was bashed in 2015, but claims he did not know what happened to him. On Thursday, the court was told Bliss had been keeping a low profile, working and starting a family, until the road rage attack.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Erin Livingston said: “Witnesses stated the victim had done nothing wrong and (Bliss) was extremely intoxicated. The defendant was unable to provide a version due to high intoxication level.”

Defence barrister Alistair McDougall, instructed by TWC Lawyers, said: “He is enormously embarrassed and remorseful.”

Mr McDougall said Bliss was at his sister’s birthday and had become extremely intoxicated. He said after the incident Bliss started attending counselling to help deal with two deaths in the family.

The court was told Bliss worked full time and had recently purchased a home with his partner.

Magistrate Kerry Magee sentenced him to nine months’ probation.

Magistrate Magee committed Bliss to the Supreme Court in Brisbane, where the breach of the suspended manslaughter sentence will be considered.

Bliss was released on bail.