Henry Laduma, struck by machete during Grenfell St brawl, denies being gang member, court told

A man who was struck by a machete during a brawl being investigated by Operation Meld is not a gang member and “accidentally inserted himself” into the fight, a court has heard.

A man who was struck with a machete during a nightclub brawl hit somebody with a chair and was involved in separate violent incidents, including a stabbing and a stomping attack, a court has heard.

Henry Laduma, 21, of Hillcrest, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, where he was released on strict home detention bail.

Opposing bail, a police prosecutor said clear CCTV of the incident which erupted inside Nairobi Affair Lounge about 1am on Sunday, March 13, and spilled outside on to Grenfell St identified Mr Laduma striking another person with a metal chair.

He said Mr Laduma was also allegedly among eight men who stomped and hit a man with a metal pole, and was also present when a man was stabbed in the chest but he said Mr Laduma’s role in that incident was unclear.

The prosecutor said an escalation in violence between the warring Sudanese youth gangs – which resulted in a stabbing death last month – was extremely concerning.

He said police feared Mr Laduma was at risk of becoming involved in more violence.

“There is currently a very significant gang issue with extreme violence and we actually consider Mr Laduma not just being a potential accused for further incidents, but also a potential victim to further violence if he was to be released out of custody,” he said.

Mr Laduma is yet to enter pleas to two aggravated counts of causing harm with intent and a count of aggravated assault.

A brawl at Grenfell St nightclub Nairobi Affair Lounge broke out on March 13. Picture: 9NEWS

On the night of the brawl, under investigation by Operation Meld detectives, six people suffered stab wounds.

The prosecutor said Mr Laduma was subject to an overnight curfew at the time.

Tim McGrath, for Mr Laduma, said his client was not a member of any gang, and had only became involved in the brawl when he went to investigate why a friend of his had been hit.

“He is emphatic, he is not in any gang,” Mr McGrath said.

“(He) accidentally inserted himself in what became a very, very serious affray.”

”He went to help a friend caught in the affray when he was struck by a machete … he has a very, very serious injury.”

Magistrate Karim Soetratma granted Mr Laduma release on strict home detention bail conditions, including a ban on contacting a “long list” of other people charged over the same brawl.

He returns to court in August.

Police were called to Nairobi Affair Lounge after multiple were injured in a brawl early on Sunday, March 13, 2022. Picture: Matt Loxton.