Star spangled anger in CBD

Knife-wielding US citizen to police after arrest: ‘No wonder you guys got shot’

AN AMERICAN man on a tourist visa in Australia who waved a knife around outside the Salt House restaurant and said to police “no wonder you got shot”, has been sentenced in court.

On December 17, the Cairns Magistrates Court heard John Phillip Fishbach, 30, became rowdy at the popular Cairns CBD night spot and bar staff denied him alcohol.

As he was removed by security staff, the court was told he called out “You’re all Cairns pussies, your days are over”.

Police prosecutor Marta Chrabkowska told the court after he was physically escorted outside, he pulled a knife out of his pocket and said, “If this was my country I would stab you all”.

His waving the knife was captured on CCTV footage, the court was told.

Police arrived at the scene and arrested him about 8pm.

As he was taken away, the court was told he said “No wonder you guys got shot two weeks ago”, which the court heard referenced the police shooting on December 12 at Wieambilla.

Fishbach pleaded guilty to five charges, including committing a public nuisance, failing to leave a licensed premises, going armed so as to cause fear and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Defence counsel David Jenkins told the court Fishbach’s behaviour was “completely out of character”.

“His wife is from Cairns and they have been married for two-and-a-half years.

“The incident happened after he was drinking throughout the day.

“He is here until June, and can pay a significant fine to the order of $2000. He has also pleaded guilty in a timely way,” he said.

“It’s the first time for Mr Fishbach before this court and he’s unlikely to come back before this court or any other.”

Magistrate Susan Warrington said the most serious transgression Fishbach was charged with was the offence of going armed so as to cause fear.

“You were heavily intoxicated, you were escorted out of the Salt House and then you were waving the knife around,” she said.

“Your comments towards police were very distasteful, they don’t have an easy job and it was at a time when they were grieving.”

She agreed the offending appeared to be out of character for the defendant, but also that a substantial fine needed to be imposed to reflect the gravity of the charge.

She fined him $2000 and ordered the knife be forfeited to the Crown.

No conviction was recorded.