Glassing at a Mooroopna pub leaves one man blind and another in jail
A 50-year-old man has faced the County Court over the glassing of another man at the Cricketers Arms Hotel in Mooroopna, Victoria, which caused serious lifelong injuries.
Michael Muller faced court from the Fulham Correctional Centre where has been remanded since December, when he was found guilty by a jury of recklessly causing serious injury to his victim, Gavin Saunders.
Muller also pleaded guilty to belting Mr Saunders with a chair as he lay on the ground after the glassing.
A witness at last year’s trial said Muller called Mr Saunders a “coon parasite” while “hanging shit” on him in June 2019.
Muller argued that he was acting in self defence when Mr Saunders became physical and pushed Muller off his bar stool, however on Tuesday Prosecutor Peter Triandos told the court that it was obvious Muller was the aggressor when he shoved Mr Saunders against the side of a pool table while brandishing a beer schooner.
He then glassed Mr Saunders before striking him with a chair.
Judge David Sexton said, “at the end of the day, (Muller) did something dangerous, that has had catastrophic impacts on this man”.
Defence lawyer Mark Sturges said his client, a Tongan national, father of seven and grandfather of 14, had little recollection of the night and might be deported after his release from jail, either to Tonga or to New Zealand.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Saunders’ sister, Amanda Saunders, said the attack has left her brother blind in one eye and in need of constant care including psychological treatment the family could not afford.
“What was meant to be a quiet drink at the pub … has changed someone’s life forever,” she said.
Judge Sexton will sentence Muller in April.
Irit Jackson, 10th March 2022
