Yin Wang: Man faced Southport District Court after assaulting man in Harbour Town carpark

A frenzied punch-up has erupted in the middle of a carpark at a busy Gold Coast shopping centre, leaving one man facing time behind bars. READ FULL DETAILS

A man has narrowly avoided time behind bars after knocking out another man he claims stole his carpark at a busy Gold Coast shopping centre.

The confrontation between Yin Wang and his victim was sparked when the other man pulled into a parking space at Harbour Town shopping centre, which Wang claimed he had been waiting for.

Southport District Court was told Wang blocked in the second man’s car with his own and got out, swearing and yelling that he had been waiting for the park for some time.

Wang punched the other driver in the face and his victim quickly retaliated, with the pair trading blows as bystanders shouted at them to stop on July 31 last year.

Prosecutor Paul Kay said Wang put the other man in a headlock – from which he managed to escape – before throwing a final punch that knocked him to the ground.

Yin Wang leaving the Southport courthouse. Picture: Jessica Paul

Wang walked back to his car and left, but later returned to speak with police.

Mr Kay said a witness saw Wang’s victim was unconscious on the ground and bleeding from the back of his head and face. Security staff and emergency services soon came to help.

The court was told the victim had little recollection of the assault and was treated in hospital for facial injuries including fractures.

It was heard the man temporarily lost his senses of taste and smell, suffered blurry vision, and had occasional migraines.

Parts of his victim impact statement were read to the court, revealing the attack caused physical and psychological trauma that left him feeling vulnerable and struggling in daily life.

Wang’s defence barrister Peter Kelly said his client moved to Australia from China to study and was now a citizen, working full-time to support his family overseas.

Mr Kelly said Wang had no history of violence and had since completed an anger management course and written letters of apology to his victim and the court.

“This was not a protracted assault – it occurred in the context of a scuffle that was emotionally charged,” he said.

“It’s been a very sobering experience for him – as Your Honour can see, he’s very remorseful, deeply ashamed, and embarrassed.”

Wang pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, wholly suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay $3000 in compensation to his victim.

Originally published as Yin Wang: Man faced Southport District Court after assaulting man in Harbour Town carpark