Men jailed after head stomping in pub fight
TWO men who admitted stomping on a felled victim's head during a pub fight in Toowoomba have been jailed.
Robert John Schafer had been celebrating his 21st birthday at the Blue Mountain Hotel on August 2, last year, when he became involved in an argument with another man, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.
After punching the victim a number of times which knocked him to the ground, Schafer had stomped on his head with his right foot, police prosecutor Des Neijens told the court.
His friend Joseph John Hill, 39, had then come from the crowd and stomped on the victim's head as well.
When a friend of the victim's stepped in, he too was punched a number of times by Schafer and knocked to the ground after which Hill punched him as well, Senior Constable Neijens said.
Both victims were treated for cuts and abrasions at the hospital, the court heard.
Defence solicitor Nathan Bouchier, for both defendants, said the incident was another example of an alcohol-fuelled altercation which, unfortunately, had escalated.
All parties were drunk at the time and his clients accepted they went too far and were remorseful, he said.
Schafer had no previous offences of violence and he had stayed out of trouble since the incident more than a year ago, Mr Bouchier submitted.
Hill, it was conceded, had more relevant history including previous assault convictions, he said.
Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Schafer to 12 months in jail but ordered he be released on parole immediately.
However, taking into account Hills criminal history, Mr Lee sentenced him to 15 months in jail and ordered he be released on parole from December 21 after serving about four months.
Source: Toowoomba Chronicle, Peter Hardwick, 10th August 2015
Originally published as: Men jailed after head stomping in pub fight
