Nigel Robert Turnbull: Man punches woman in the head at Dalby bottle shop
A man was greeted with a punch in the face after extending a handshake to a Dalby father, before his female associate was struck several times in the head.
Police & Courts
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An unprovoked attack at a Dalby bottle-O was witnessed by shocked onlookers when a man repeatedly punched a woman in the head after he struck her associate in the face.
Nigel Robert Turnbull, 34, faced Dalby Magistrates Court charged with common assault (domestic violence offence), contravening a domestic violence order, and committing a public nuisance in the vicinity of a licensed premises.
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The court heard police were tasked to attend a disturbance at the Windsor Hotel about 7.40pm on December 26, to find both victims of the attack, with the man bleeding from the mouth.
Police prosecutor sergeant Derek Brady said CCTV footage viewed by police depicted both victims inside the shop, with Turnbull seen entering from the rear door.
“He walks past the victim, and approaches the male associate … this male extends his hand to shake hands with the defendant,” sergeant Brady said.
“At which stage the defendant punches him once in the face … causing the male to fall to the ground.
“The victim then approaches the defendant to pull him away, at which stage the defendant punches her several times in the head.”
The court heard the offence occurred at the entrance of the Windsor Hotel, with the actions being “clearly visible” from the pub next door, leading to the public nuisance charge.
Defence solicitor Michael McElhinney said the 34-year-old pig feed assistant had been made aware that his ex-partner was having an affair with a friend, and Boxing Day was the first time he had seen them together.
“He obviously became angry and hit the male person,” he said.
“His instructions are that there was an instinctive action when the aggrieved became involved in the physical altercation.”
Mr McElhinney told the court that it was not premeditated, and Turnbull was extremely remorseful.
Magistrate Tracy Mossop acknowledged there were no like offences of violence on his criminal history, but said it was “very serious conduct” by Turnbull.
She told the defendant she had to revoke the probation he violated with these offences, and re-sentence him on his previous drug offences.
Turnbull pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months imprisonment for the possession of a dangerous drug, and one month imprisonment for possessing a utensil.
She then suspended those terms for 12 months, with convictions recorded.
For contravening a domestic violence order and common assault (domestic violence offence), he was sentenced to two six month terms of imprisonment.
For committing a public nuisance within the vicinity of a licensed premises he was sentenced to four months imprisonment.
She suspended those terms of imprisonment for 18 months.
Convictions were recorded.
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Originally published as Nigel Robert Turnbull: Man punches woman in the head at Dalby bottle shop
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