Francis Iosefo fined for 2 Chambers assault

A father of five who claims he was racially abused, punched his victim to the face twice.

Francis Iosefo

A father of five said he punched a man twice in the face at a Geelong nightclub because he was racially abused.

Francis Iosefo, 37, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday to recklessly causing injury during the incident, which happened on December 11, last year, at 2 Chambers on James St in the CBD.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Andrew Clapham said Iosefo was waiting in line to go to the bathroom.

At 1.30am the victim walked past Iosefo and abused him, the court heard.

“The accused reacted to what was said by the victim. At this point he punched the victim once in the face and then a second time causing the victim to fall to the ground,” Constable Clapham said.

Iosefo represented himself in court and said he had been called a “black c---” by the man, which caused him to react in the way that he did.

The court heard the victim suffered a cut above his right eye, which needed to be glued.

When police spoke to Iosefo, he said he was remorseful and made a full admission to the offending.

Iosefo said he had consumed a large amount of alcohol and had been antagonised, but said the offending was out of character.

Magistrate Franz Holzer fined Iosefo $700 and opted to not record a conviction.

“Racially motivated behaviours that you were subject to … they are abhorrent and they should not occur in any society,” Mr Holzer said.

“Sadly, it is a reflection as to where we are as a country and where we are as a community.

”I hope it is confined and not something more widespread. I accept you were remorseful and apologetic,” he said.

Originally published as Francis Iosefo fined for 2 Chambers assault