EIGHTEENTH birthday celebrations at an Irish pub turned ugly for a Townsville teenager after he was refused entry, threw punches at security guards and then fled - launching a city-wide manhunt.
The Townsville Bulletin reported Magistrate Ross Mack jokingly remarked, when sentencing Tyson Gregory Long-Southwood who pleaded guilty yesterday in the Townsville Magistrates Court to acting in a disorderly manner, that the teenager's next big milestone birthday would be one not to miss.
"Well Mr Gregory I cannot wait until your 21st celebrations," the magistrate said with a laugh after hearing of his 18th birthday escapades.
"That will be a real humdinger."
Police prosecutor Mark Fenlon told the court the birthday boy from Gumlow started striking out at security after he was refused entry into Irish Finnegans on High Range Rd on August 13 this year at 10.45pm.
"There was a verbal altercation with security guards, he acted aggressively and then wrestled violently with them."
The prosecutor said Long-Southwood ran into the nearby Sunland Plaza after police were called.
Townsville's tactical crime squad responded and launched a full scale patrol of the area after they obtained a description of the intoxicated offender from CCTV footage and pub staff.
"Police spotted the defendant shortly after on Riverway Dve in a vacant block hiding in long grass with other males," Mr Fenlon said.
However the defendant did not go quietly into custody - officers had to leave their patrol car and run after Long-Southwood and his friends.
"They yelled out 'Police, police don't move, get down on the ground' but the teenagers continued to run away," he said.
"The defendant was captured and restrained but could give no reason or excuse as to why he fled and was taken into custody at the watch house."
Duty lawyer Anna Farmer argued her client had turned 18 on the day he was arrested and was out celebrating at a licensed premises for the first time.
"He was drinking with friends and he helped put one in a taxi outside the pub but was refused back in," she said.
"He acted foolishly towards the guards, then panicked and ran when police got involved."
Ms Farmer said there was some confusion on her client's part, as the new pub-goer did not understand the rules of a licensed premises.
"But he now knows that security guards have the right to refuse people entry," she said.
Long-Southwood was given a six-month $450 good behaviour bond.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Nightclub fun ends in death
Punches caused nightclub death: court Melissa Iaria May 17, 2010 AAP
It was meant to be a night of fun. But in just 16 seconds, Adriyas Tello delivered two punches that led to Matthew McEvoy's death and him being charged with the 24-year-old's manslaughter.
Tello was celebrating his 21st birthday at Melbourne's QBH nightclub when he instigated the affray on September 7, 2008.
During the incident, captured on security footage, Tello punched Mr McEvoy twice, and his friends joined in, before one of them kicked Mr McEvoy in the head while he was on the ground.
Mr McEvoy was knocked unconscious, placed on life support and died the next night in hospital.
Tello, 22, who has pleaded guilty to Mr McEvoy's manslaughter, admitted to police he was "angry" and a "bit tipsy" when he punched him, saying he feared he would hurt his cousin.
Victorian Supreme Court Justice Paul Coghlan said the case showed how quickly tragedy could happen.
"They demonstrate how easily one very good young man can be killed out of a few moments of stupidity," he said.
Emotional victim impact statements were read during the pre-sentence hearing.
Mr McEvoy's father Peter McEvoy said he got a phone call on Father's Day to say his son was on life support.
"Seeing our beautiful big strong son lying on a bed with so many wires and tubes coming from his head was so traumatic and unbelievable it still haunts me to this day," he wrote.
He described being "shattered, hurt, bitter, angry and totally devastated".
"No one can tell me why my son, Matthew, was punched and kicked to death. I cry because I still expect Matthew to walk in from work every evening and then realise he is not coming home."
Mr McEvoy's mother said she was numb and heartbroken.
"There isn't a day goes by that I don't shed tears, not a minute goes by when I don't think of Matthew," Mariead McEvoy said.
"I have a constant lump in my throat.
"A night that was meant to be fun has ruined us all."
Mr McEvoy made no effort to defend himself during the unprovoked attacks, crown prosecutor Gary Hevey said.
He said there had been an earlier verbal argument between Mr McEvoy and one of Tello's friends before the fatal assault, but it ended peacefully.
Mr McEvoy's death was caused by the punches to his head or the kick he received from Ivan Issa while on the ground.
Tello's lawyer Bill Stuart said his client was deeply ashamed, regretful and devastated by the events.
Asking that he receive a lower-than-usual minimum term, Mr Stuart said Tello had pleaded guilty at an early stage.
He said the Iraq-born Tello was one of eight children and had a disadvantaged upbringing.
His family fled the Gulf war and lived abroad, living "hand to mouth" before arriving in Australia in 1998 with no English.
Tello's co-accused, Lauren Sako, who kicked Mr McEvoy in the assault, was jailed for a minimum of three years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Ivan Issa and Michael O'Brien each pleaded guilty to affray and received community-based orders.
Tello, of Roxburgh Park, was remanded in custody for sentencing on May 26.
It was meant to be a night of fun. But in just 16 seconds, Adriyas Tello delivered two punches that led to Matthew McEvoy's death and him being charged with the 24-year-old's manslaughter.
Tello was celebrating his 21st birthday at Melbourne's QBH nightclub when he instigated the affray on September 7, 2008.
During the incident, captured on security footage, Tello punched Mr McEvoy twice, and his friends joined in, before one of them kicked Mr McEvoy in the head while he was on the ground.
Mr McEvoy was knocked unconscious, placed on life support and died the next night in hospital.
Tello, 22, who has pleaded guilty to Mr McEvoy's manslaughter, admitted to police he was "angry" and a "bit tipsy" when he punched him, saying he feared he would hurt his cousin.
Victorian Supreme Court Justice Paul Coghlan said the case showed how quickly tragedy could happen.
"They demonstrate how easily one very good young man can be killed out of a few moments of stupidity," he said.
Emotional victim impact statements were read during the pre-sentence hearing.
Mr McEvoy's father Peter McEvoy said he got a phone call on Father's Day to say his son was on life support.
"Seeing our beautiful big strong son lying on a bed with so many wires and tubes coming from his head was so traumatic and unbelievable it still haunts me to this day," he wrote.
He described being "shattered, hurt, bitter, angry and totally devastated".
"No one can tell me why my son, Matthew, was punched and kicked to death. I cry because I still expect Matthew to walk in from work every evening and then realise he is not coming home."
Mr McEvoy's mother said she was numb and heartbroken.
"There isn't a day goes by that I don't shed tears, not a minute goes by when I don't think of Matthew," Mariead McEvoy said.
"I have a constant lump in my throat.
"A night that was meant to be fun has ruined us all."
Mr McEvoy made no effort to defend himself during the unprovoked attacks, crown prosecutor Gary Hevey said.
He said there had been an earlier verbal argument between Mr McEvoy and one of Tello's friends before the fatal assault, but it ended peacefully.
Mr McEvoy's death was caused by the punches to his head or the kick he received from Ivan Issa while on the ground.
Tello's lawyer Bill Stuart said his client was deeply ashamed, regretful and devastated by the events.
Asking that he receive a lower-than-usual minimum term, Mr Stuart said Tello had pleaded guilty at an early stage.
He said the Iraq-born Tello was one of eight children and had a disadvantaged upbringing.
His family fled the Gulf war and lived abroad, living "hand to mouth" before arriving in Australia in 1998 with no English.
Tello's co-accused, Lauren Sako, who kicked Mr McEvoy in the assault, was jailed for a minimum of three years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Ivan Issa and Michael O'Brien each pleaded guilty to affray and received community-based orders.
Tello, of Roxburgh Park, was remanded in custody for sentencing on May 26.
Nightclub bouncer's foot almost chopped off
Brothers charged over nightclub attack - Melissa Iaria March 2, 2010- AAP
Two brothers who surrendered themselves to police after a nationwide hunt have appeared in court charged over a machete attack that almost severed a nightclub bouncer's foot.
The arrest of Cong Thanh Nguyen, 20, of Richmond, and Tam Thanh Nguyen, 23, of Keilor Downs, brings to seven the number of people charged over the November 22 attack on bouncer Ahmad Chokr outside Melbourne's Bubble nightclub.
The Nguyen brothers handed themselves in to police on Tuesday morning after a nationwide hunt was launched in December to track them down and warrants were issued for their arrest.
They made a brief appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday. They did not apply for bail.
Prosecutors told the court that security camera footage from inside the nightclub and DNA analysis would be used to support their case.
The brothers are each charged with single counts of intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury, affray, assault with a weapon and three counts of assault.
Magistrate Peter Reardon remanded the pair in custody to face the same court.
Two brothers who surrendered themselves to police after a nationwide hunt have appeared in court charged over a machete attack that almost severed a nightclub bouncer's foot.
The arrest of Cong Thanh Nguyen, 20, of Richmond, and Tam Thanh Nguyen, 23, of Keilor Downs, brings to seven the number of people charged over the November 22 attack on bouncer Ahmad Chokr outside Melbourne's Bubble nightclub.
The Nguyen brothers handed themselves in to police on Tuesday morning after a nationwide hunt was launched in December to track them down and warrants were issued for their arrest.
They made a brief appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday. They did not apply for bail.
Prosecutors told the court that security camera footage from inside the nightclub and DNA analysis would be used to support their case.
The brothers are each charged with single counts of intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury, affray, assault with a weapon and three counts of assault.
Magistrate Peter Reardon remanded the pair in custody to face the same court.
Night club shooting
Man charged over nightclub shooting
Police have charged a man over a shooting outside a nightclub in Melbourne's north last week.
A 21-year-old man, from Roxburgh Park, handed himself in at the St Kilda Road police complex on Saturday after the incident, which occurred outside the Q Room club in Thomastown on Thursday.
Police said the man was charged with two counts of intentionally causing serious injury, two counts of recklessly causing serious injury and possessing an unregistered handgun.
The 25-year-old victim was allegedly shot in the hand and leg after an argument outside the club, which is located in an industrial area.
A male friend of the victim was struck by a car in which the alleged gunman was travelling, causing serious injuries to his lower leg, which had to be amputated.
Police have charged a man over a shooting outside a nightclub in Melbourne's north last week.
A 21-year-old man, from Roxburgh Park, handed himself in at the St Kilda Road police complex on Saturday after the incident, which occurred outside the Q Room club in Thomastown on Thursday.
Police said the man was charged with two counts of intentionally causing serious injury, two counts of recklessly causing serious injury and possessing an unregistered handgun.
The 25-year-old victim was allegedly shot in the hand and leg after an argument outside the club, which is located in an industrial area.
A male friend of the victim was struck by a car in which the alleged gunman was travelling, causing serious injuries to his lower leg, which had to be amputated.
Security eject patron who re-enters through the roof
A drunk man thrown out of a Queensland nightclub has made a dramatic re-entry through the roof, flattening patrons on the dance floor below.
The 20-year-old is in hospital after falling through the plasterboard ceiling onto the upstairs dance floor of Townsville's Mad Cow nightclub early on Sunday.
His antics left three other club-goers, two women and a man, injured, police said.
It is alleged the man climbed onto the roof of the Flinders Street East venue after security guards threw him out for being too drunk.
Ambulance officers were called to the scene and treated the injured before transporting them to hospital.
Police expect to interview the man today.
The 20-year-old is in hospital after falling through the plasterboard ceiling onto the upstairs dance floor of Townsville's Mad Cow nightclub early on Sunday.
His antics left three other club-goers, two women and a man, injured, police said.
It is alleged the man climbed onto the roof of the Flinders Street East venue after security guards threw him out for being too drunk.
Ambulance officers were called to the scene and treated the injured before transporting them to hospital.
Police expect to interview the man today.
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