Family’s costly trip to KFC
Father and sons fined for brawl
A GROVEDALE family has been ordered to cough up more than $18,000 after a wild brawl at a fast food outlet.
Robert Haines, 47, and his sons Ryan, 24, and Bradley, 20, were yesterday sentenced for their role in the January incident at KFC in Grovedale.
Earlier this week, the Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the fracas started when Bradley noticed a group of rivals at the store and called his brother and father for back-up.
The eldest Haines arrived with a baseball bat — which he used to swing at one of the group — while the two brothers delivered a volley of punches and kicks to three others.
At one stage, a victim jumped the counter and hid in a manager’s office to seek refuge.
The brawl was witnessed by at least 10 bystanders, who each provided statements to police.
During the ruckus, the Haines trio also caused more than $10,000 worth of damage to two cars parked outside the KFC store.
The court heard the dispute between Bradley and one of the other men had been sparked over a girl.
Yesterday, all three men were convicted and fined a combined $8000, while each was also ordered to pay compensation for the damaged cars.
Brothers Ryan and Bradley were also slapped with 12month corrections orders.
In sentencing, Magistrate Peter Mellas said the public display of aggression needed to be condemned.
“People should not take matters into their own hands,” he said. “Things quickly spiralled out of control … (and) had every possibility of spiralling even more out of control than it did.
“The issue here is that this occurred at a place where people are entitled to go and not be confronted with this kind of violence.”