Michael Morgan Morris sentenced for role in violent Southport CBD brawl

A Gold Coast man was released from jail less than a fortnight before attacking several people in a dramatic roadside melee captured on video. READ THE DETAILS

A man who kicked a woman in the head during a vicious street brawl on a central Southport street had been released from jail less than two weeks earlier.

Michael Morgan Morris was at the centre of the melee near the corner of Nerang and Scarborough Sts on February 21.

Southport Magistrates Court was told the 32-year-old kicked a woman in the head and headbutted another man, knocking him to the ground.

Police soon spotted the violent altercation on council CCTV cameras and intervened.

The fight which broke out in the Southport CBD.

Police prosecutor Kimberly Murphy said Morris initially refused police orders to stop or get on the ground, and needed to be forcibly restrained and handcuffed.

She said Morris then repeatedly slammed his head into a wall and refused to walk properly while being escorted to the watch-house.

It was earlier that same day that Morris received a Gucci wallet containing several debit and credit cards in someone else’s name, which he used to purchase close to $200 worth of items from Southport service stations that morning.

Michael Morgan Morris.

The court was told he had a significant criminal history and spent more than a year in jail prior to his release on parole, less than two weeks before the Southport brawl.

Defence lawyer Danielle Egan, of Ashkan Tai Lawyers, said Morris had struggled with heroin addiction since first using at 12 years old, but hoped to rehabilitate and finish his parole order so he could visit his unwell mother in Melbourne.

“Mr Morris has raised his difficulty in reintegrating into the community upon release, given he’s unfortunately spent a significant amount of his life so far in and out of custody,” Ms Egan said.

“The banging his head against the wall wasn’t directed at police – that was him being really frustrated and angry at himself that he didn’t last very long out in the community again.”

Morris pleaded guilty to two counts each of obstructing police and fraud, and one count each of receiving tainted property and committing public nuisance.

He was sentenced to four months’ jail with immediate parole eligibility.

Originally published as Michael Morgan Morris sentenced for role in violent Southport CBD brawl