Our client, an 18-year-old man, was charged with doing grievous bodily harm to another. On the evening in question, our client was on his way to the Northbridge precinct to collect his girlfriend when he received a concerning telephone call from his friend who had seen a certain man walking through Northbridge. That man had allegedly indecently dealt with one of our client’s family members. Our client, believing his friend would confront the man, caught up with his friend with the intention of diffusing a potential situation. However, upon seeing the man in question, our client lost his cool and started a fight, as a result of which, the man sustained a broken jaw requiring surgery and metal plates.
Our client took responsibility for his actions, and plead guilty to the charge. The serious nature of the injury and the need for the Court to condemn and deter what was akin to vigilante behaviour warranted the imposition of a term of imprisonment. However, having demonstrated remorse, accountability together with glowing character references, and a psychological report which noted he was at low risk of re-offending, we were able to persuade the sentencing judge to suspend the term of imprisonment on conditions.
