Rocks thrown in argument between ex-neighbours

A VOLATILE neighbourhood dispute exploded into violence in the middle of a quiet residential street, with a man hurling rocks at his former neighbour and claiming the victim stalked him.

An altercation broke out between David Raymand Keenahan and his former neighbour at about 4.30pm on April 12 outside Keenahan’s home on Bamboo Ave in Benowa.

Southport Magistrates Court was told the 49-year-old started yelling at the other man, accusing him of stalking him and trying to kill his mother.

The pair continued shouting back and forth while a shirtless Keenahan pursued his victim down the street.

Footage played to the court on Monday showed Keenahan throwing several large rocks at the other man from behind, with one of them striking his victim on the right side of his back and causing immediate pain.

Keenahan could be heard shouting, “You f**king dog … (you) f**king tried to kill my mother,” while following his victim.

The incident was reported to the police shortly afterwards.

The Benowa man admitted to throwing the rock when he was later spoken to by police, but again claimed it was because his victim was stalking him.

Defence lawyer Cheonton Strickland told the court his client had no criminal history and had been his mother’s carer since she was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016.

He said the incident was a flare-up in long-running conflict between Keenahan and his former neighbour, which allegedly involved the other man spitting in Keenahan’s face and threats between the two.

The court was told the parties had unsuccessfully tried to resolve the matter through mediation, and Keenahan had since written a letter expressing his remorse.

Keenahan pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm. He was fined $1200 and no conviction was recorded.