March 4, 2014
A sentencing hearing for a 37-year-old man in the District Court in Kingaroy today dredged up memories of a tragic moment in Murgon’s recent history.
The court was told that the accused would forever be known as “the man who killed the Murgon publican”.
As a 16-year-old, the man was involved in a punch-up outside The Australian Hotel in Murgon in 1993 during which publican Dermot Tiernan was struck and subsequently died. He was convicted of manslaughter.
Barrister Don MacKenzie, for the defence, told the court that since that time his client had not been able to get a job or undertake training and was basically illiterate.
“The vilification meted out to him at 16 and 17 by the local media and the State media, particularly the Courier-Mail, had a profound effect on him,” Mr MacKenzie said.
He said the case had also had an effect on the solicitor who represented the man at the time, who had to leave town.
This was “no excuse” for the man’s more recent behavior but demonstrated that he was someone who needed support, Mr MacKenzie said.
He said his client had embarked on a long 20-year abuse of alcohol but since Christmas had been endeavouring to change his ways.
The man pleaded guilty today to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
The Crown alleged he assaulted his de facto wife at Cherbourg on August 13 last year.
Crown Prosecutor Ron Swannick said the accused had spat in the woman’s face, struck her in the face and ribs and threatened to kill her.
She had suffered three broken ribs as well as injuries to her jaw and chest and spent five days in hospital. After being discharged, she had to be readmitted to drain blood from her chest as the result of a punctured lung.
Mr Swannick described the assault as a “very violent, persistent offence”.
The man was on parole for a similar offence at the time of the incident.
Judge Brendan Butler sentenced him to 2½ years jail and fixed a parole release date of November 3.
