Joel Nicholas Lawrie accused of Cumby hammer attack denied bail

The man accused of a violent hammer attack outside the Cumberland Hotel on Australia Day was on a good behaviour bond at the time, a court has heard.

A violent and “excessive” attack saw a man smashed on the head with a hammer several times at a train station outside the Cumberland Hotel on Australia Day, a court has heard.

Findon man Joel Nicholas Lawrie on Wednesday appeared by video link from custody in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court making a bid for home detention bail

Lawrie, 27, is charged with causing serious harm with intent.

A police prosecutor told presiding magistrate Jayanthi Pandya the alleged victim had to be rushed to hospital and was put into resuscitation with a fractured jaw and a possible fractured skull and back.

Joel Nicholas Lawrie, who has been accused of a violent hammer attack outside the Cumberland Hotel at Exeter. Picture: Facebook

“The CCTV from the railway station shows the accused, co-accused, and victim sitting under the shelter together. The victim then gets off of the seat and swings an object at the accused in the matter,” he said.

“The accused and co-accused then dispossess the victim of the object, which is believed to be a hammer, and begin taking turns hitting the victim in the head and upper torso with the hammer about five to six times each.

“The victim then falls to the ground and ends up sitting against a bin when the accused and co-accused continue to assault the victim by kicking and punching him all over the body in an excessive assault.”

The prosecutor told the court police were responding to a separate incident at the pub in Exeter and it was “fortunate” they were nearby when the alleged attack took place and could intervene.

The court heard Lawrie was on a good behaviour bond at the time of the alleged attack and had several priors, including the aggravated assault of a police officer, which meant the prosecutor “strongly opposed” bail.

The court heard the hammer used in the alleged assault was placed into a plastic bag and thrown onto the nearby train tracks.

The Cumberland Hotel at Exeter and the train tracks directly across the road. Picture: realestate.com.au

The prosecutor initially did not tell the court the CCTV showed the accused was approached by the victim first and Mike Norman, for Lawrie, said it was “somewhat disappointing” the factor was not addressed.

“The prosecutor didn’t read out a significant part of the apprehension report,” he said.

“Clearly, Mr Lawrie and the (co-accused) were attacked first with the hammer.

“They managed to get the hammer off the guy and were acting in self-defence.”

Ms Pandya refused bail to protect the alleged victim, because of the seriousness of the allegations and due to the risk of reoffending.

Lawrie will face the Adelaide Magistrates Court in April with the co-accused.