Gatecrashers Jason Edwin Brady and Isaac Lee Parsons jailed for ‘cowardly’ attack on NYE revellers

Two gatecrashers who unleashed a “merciless and unrelenting” attack on a group of revellers at a New Year’s Eve party have been jailed for eight years.

• Jury told about happy, festive event turning to mayhem

Two gatecrashers who unleashed a “merciless and unrelenting” attack on a group of revellers at a New Year’s Eve party have been jailed for eight years.

Jason Edwin Brady, 25, and Isaac Derek Lee Parsons, 26, along with others, gatecrashed an East-West themed party at a private property at Pasadena in the early hours of January 1, 2013, and started attacking guests with pieces of wood and other weapons.

Judge Paul Cuthbertson said the pair, and a youth who was previously sentenced for his involvement, first approached a partygoer and his wife who were leaving the celebration — attacking the man — before returning to the private party with backup.

“They arranged with a larger group who came with weapons back to the location of the party which was on a tennis court in private premises,” Judge Cuthbertson said.

“Rather than minding their own business and allowing the other people to enjoy their New Year’s Eve the offenders, with reinforcements, returned with the intention of causing further harm to the innocent partygoers.

“These people had been minding their own business and enjoying their party. Members of the offenders group used pieces of wood as weapons to attack the innocent partygoers.”

A jury previously found Brady and Parsons were each found guilty of five aggravated counts of intentionally causing harm and two aggravated counts of assault.

Judge Cuthbertson said described the attack as “cowardly”, with numerous innocent partygoers suffering significant injuries including a fractured skull, fractured eye socket and one man being knocked unconscious.

“The attack was merciless and unrelenting. It occurred in the presence of women and children,” he said.

“Both offenders were significant and willing participants in the attack.

“The attack did not end until Brady had the end of his nose bitten off … the offenders then all retreated in the same cowardly fashion they had appeared.

Judge Cuthbertson said many of the victims continue to suffer psychological injuries.

“The behaviour of which they have both been convicted is disgraceful and demanding of the imposition of significant penalties,” he said.

He sentenced the men to nine years in jail, which he reduced for each man for time served. Brady was jailed for eight years and five months with a non-parole period of four years and eight months. Parsons was jailed for eight years with a non-parole period of 4 years 6 months.

Judge Cuthbertson said Parsons faces possible deportation to his native New Zealand after serving his sentence.