Men face court charged with attack on Christies Beach restaurant owner

Three men will face trial over an alleged group attack where a restaurant owner was stabbed and “pay ya tick” was graffitied on his front window. A fourth man has already pleaded guilty.

The men who allegedly attacked a Christies Beach restaurant owner after graffitiing “pay ya tick” on his front window have entered pleas to their charges.

Tyrone Bradley Thompson, 21, Connar Aiden Pails, 19, Baylee Luke Pickett, 19, and Aydin Lenart, 19, are accused of the bizarre incident at the Chinese restaurant.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Mr Thompson, who was initially listed for no case to answer submissions, pleaded not guilty to causing harm with intent and theft using force.

Tyrone Thompson pleaded not guilty to his charges. Photo: Facebook

Earlier this month, Pickett, of Fulham Gardens, pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.

Mr Pails, of Christies Beach, and Mr Lenart, of Aberfoyle Park, pleaded not guilty to causing harm with intent and theft using force, while Mr Pails also pleaded not guilty to another charge of causing harm with intent – while armed with a knife.

The four men, along with a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly stabbed a man in the hand and punched him in the head at the Southern Palace Chinese restaurant on Gulfview Rd, Christies Beach, about 11.45pm on January 28.

Police said the alleged victim confronted five males after he spotted them allegedly spraying graffiti on his front window.

It appeared the graffiti said “pay ya tick”.

A man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after he was stabbed and beaten out the front of his restaurant. Picture: Katrina Muhsin/10 NEWS FIRST

“Pay ya tick” was allegedly spray painted on the restaurant windows. Picture: Katrina Muhsin/10 NEWS FIRST

A bloodied footprint was at the scene. Picture: Katrina Muhsin/10 NEWS FIRST

Baylee Pickett pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent. Photo: Facebook

Connar Pails pleaded not guilty to commit theft using force and causing harm with intent. Photo: Facebook

Mr Vadasz, for Mr Thompson, told the court during his client’s bail application in January the men felt threatened after the restaurant owner allegedly approached the group with a kitchen utensil.

“In a nutshell, Mr Thompson was one of a number of men who were at the rear of the restaurant when the complainant exited the back door of the restaurant armed with a meat cleaver,” Mr Vadasz said.

Mr Thompson said the victim told them the police had been called and that he was going to harm them.

The court heard the victim allegedly swung the cleaver at the defendants, striking Mr Lenart on his knee.

“Another co-accused saw an Asian man running and screaming at one of his friends and continued hacking into his mates,” Mr Vadasz said.

The court heard a gold necklace worth $10,000 was taken at the time of the alleged assault.

Pickett’s charge was adjourned until October while the other three men will face the District Court in December.