Nightclub boss fined for hitting rival

A STOUSH between two of Townsville’s nightclub identities which ended in a violent outburst was prompted by threats to kill loved ones, a court has heard.

FLNDRS nightclub venue manager Jake Ward, 24, was fined $600 after pleading guilty to public nuisance when he faced Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday.

Ward punched Shiv Suri, who owns The Bank Nightclub, in the early hours of June 17.

He knocked the 30-year-old to the ground before repeatedly punching Mr Suri to the head, police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Madsen said.

Magistrate Howard Osborne noted there was no assault complaint and Mr Suri had not provided police with any details of his injuries.

“The defendant approaches (Mr Suri) in a skipping manner before striking him initially which appears to knock him completely unconscious,” Sgt Madsen said.

“There was continued forceful blows on the person while they were unconscious on the ground.

“The victim remains unconscious for approximately four minutes … he moves a leg at about the four minute mark and continues to lie on the ground while receiving assistance for another 10 minutes.”

The court heard Ward had been convicted for a public nuisance offence in the past which was also violent in nature and occurred in Flinders St.

Defence lawyer Anderson Telford, said there was an ongoing feud between his client and Mr Suri.

“It might be seen as a contest between two nightclubs,” Mr Telford told the court.

“It might also be said that this is not the first time that Mr Ward was subject to taunts, treatment and venomous vitriol from Mr Suri.” It was accepted by the prosecution that Mr Suri had made threats to Ward prior to the incident in question, including sliding his finger across his throat while staring menacingly at the 24year-old.

“The witness (Mr Suri) made several threats towards him, stating that he was going to kill his family,” Mr Telford said. “(Ward) is clearly a young man of good character and he was pushed to the point of breaking.”

He said the lack of a complaint, combined with the accepted threats meant the fine was the appropriate sentence with no conviction recorded.