Crime spree sentence

A CRIME spree spanning about a month landed a man convictions on five charges and a suspended sentence when he appeared in Cairns District Court on Thursday.

Judge Tracy Fantin strongly urged Luey Smith Poonkamelya, 24, not to return to Aurukun where family feuding had contributed to his five offences, but to stay in Cairns and find work.

Poonkamelya spent 344 days in pre-sentence custody after being charged with strangulation – domestic vi “You olence, assault occasioning bodily harm, going armed so as to cause fear, unlawful assembly and committing public nuisance.

The offences occurred in May 2021, when Poonkamelya was on probation for other matters.

“You clearly have a problem with alcohol you need to get under control,” Judge Fantin said.

“I assume you would prefer to be in community or on country than in Lotus Glen, but unless you do something, you will end up back there for longer and longer periods.

have real prospects of rehabilitation if you can stop drinking and move away from Aurukun.”

Judge Fantin said the offences involved violence or threats of violence against four different people.

She said Poonkamelya was drinking home brew, but being drunk was not an excuse, when he lost his temper and punched a man twice in the head before putting his hands around the man’s neck and squeezing until he almost ran out of breath.

Ten days later, Poonkamelya went with a bow and arrow to a home and yelled at a person that he was going to kill them with his bow.

The judge acknowledged Poonkamelya had a disadvantaged and dysfunctional childhood, during which he was exposed to significant violence, and that he had been employed and had a number of certificates.

“You will be released today with supervision and support in the community so you have the chance to continue rehabilitation,” Judge Fantin said.

Poonkamelya was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ prison for assault occasioning bodily harm but the sentence was suspended. It was the same outcome for the charge of strangulation.

Judge Fantin also imposed two orders of 40 hours community service and probation with the condition that Poonkamelya submit to treatment for alcohol abuse for going armed so as to cause fear, and a further 60 hours for committing public nuisance and unlawful assembly.

The public nuisance and unlawful assembly charges are related to a fight in Aurukun.