Man kicked woman in head in violent CBD street brawl

A man who kicked a woman in the head during a vicious street brawl on a central Southport street had been released from jail less than two weeks earlier.

Michael Morgan Morris was at the centre of the melee near the corner of

Nerang and Scarborough Sts on February 21.

Southport Magistrates

Court heard the 32-year-old (right) kicked a woman in the head and headbutted a man, knocking him to the ground.

Police soon spotted the violent altercation on council CCTV cameras and intervened.

Police prosecutor Kimberly Murphy said Morris initially refused police orders to stop, and needed to be forcibly restrained and handcuffed. She said Morris then repeatedly slammed his head into a wall and refused to walk properly while being escorted to the watch-house.

It was earlier that same day that Morris received a Gucci wallet containing several debit and credit cards in someone else’s name, which he used to purchase close to $200 worth of items from Southport service stations that morning.

The court was told he had a significant criminal history and spent more than a year in jail prior to his release on parole, less than two weeks before the Southport brawl.

Defence lawyer Danielle Egan, of Ashkan Tai Lawyers, said Morris had struggled with heroin addiction since first using at 12 years old, but hoped to rehabilitate and finish his parole order so he could visit his unwell mother in Melbourne.

“The banging his head against the wall wasn’t directed at police – that was him being really frustrated and angry at himself that he didn’t last very long out in the community again.”

Morris pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing police and fraud, and a count each of receiving tainted property and committing public nuisance. He was sentenced to four months’ jail with immediate parole eligibility.