Raymond Joseph Mason found guilty of public nuisance in Dalby Magistrates Court for brawl over butter

A wild brawl at a supermarket all started over a tub of butter, but a 53-year-old made things worse for himself after making vile comments to police. READ MORE.

The Tara Foodworks was the scene of a wild brawl, with a 53-year-old found guilty after a hearing in Dalby Magistrates Court of public nuisance.

A 53-year-old Tara man has faced court after a wild brawl in Foodworks that all started over a tub of butter.

Raymond Joseph Mason faced Dalby Magistrates Court, pleading not guilty to public nuisance and choosing to represent himself during the hearing.

During the opening statements police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Hutchins told the court that on September 23, 2023, about 5.30pm police were called to the Tara Foodworks after reports of a fight between two men.

When they arrived they found produce strewn across the ground, including glass from a Nescafe coffee jar that was broken during the fight.

Police interviewed an 18-year-old man involved in the fight and his mother, as well as several witnesses. The court was told Mason however had left the scene by the time police arrived.

Sergeant Hutchins then called upon his first witness, Rebecca Lapthorn.

Ms Lapthorn told the court she was at the Foodworks shopping with her work colleague when she heard “yelling and ruckus” from the next aisle.

She said she went over to check on the noise and saw two men fighting in the fruit section with one of them throwing a Nescafe jar which shattered and cut the arm and foot of an older man.

She said she offered medical attention to the man who had been cut with the glass.

Sergeant Hutchins also called forward Ms Lapthorn’s colleague Katrina Hughes.

Ms Hughes presented similar testimony, telling the court she heard the fight and had treated the older man who was cut with the glass.

During cross-examination, Mason asked both witnesses if they had seen what had started the fight and they said they hadn't, however they said the teenager and his mother appeared to be yelling the loudest.

Mason also asked both witnesses if they’d seen who’d thrown the coffee jar, but they said they hadn’t.

Sergeant Hutchins then called forward the police officers who had attended the scene, including Senior Constable Brendan Florence and Senior Constable Kimberly Johnstone.

Both officers said they had arrived after the fight had ended but spoke to witnesses at the scene and obtained the CCTV footage. Sergeant Hutchins then played the footage in court.

Cameras inside the store captured Mason getting into an argument with another man and women before he began walking towards the exit while turning around and goading the man to follow him outside.

As Mason leaves he places a tub of butter on the counter top and begins to walk outside, at which point the teenager walks up, grabs the butter and begins walking back into the store to put it away.

Mason can then be seen sprinting across the store and striking the teenager as he turns around before a brawl ensues. Mason then asked for a second angle of the footage to be shown which clearly depicted the same thing.

Sergeant Hutchins then called arresting officer Senior Constable Timothy Stephens as his final witness.

Senior Constable Stephens told the court he had attended Mason’s property about 6.50pm to issue him his notice to appear with Mason becoming agitated.

Mason, who throughout much of the trial brought up his mistreatment at the hands of the police, then asked for the body cam footage of Senior Constable Stephens to be shown.

In the footage Senior Constable Stephens and his partner can be seen approaching the gate of Mason’s property presenting him with his notice and asking about the fight.

Mason then told police he would “catch him (the teenager) out on the street” and said he had “10 cars of boys coming up from the missions to deal with him”.

Police could then be heard warning Mason not to make threats and to let it go.

Mason then made a comment to the Tara police saying “this is how you end up like your shot friends” with police warning Mason not to speak ill of the dead.

In his closing statements Mason said he had been driven into town by his neighbour to get butter when he crossed paths with the man and his mother.

He then alleged they called him a “junkie” and a “woman basher” so he invited the man outside for a fight.

Mason said as he was leaving the teenager approached him with a glass coffee container in his hand before grabbing the butter and walking back into the store.

He said as he approached the teenager he saw him turn and raise the glass container and struck him to the face in order to defend himself and suggested they were the aggressors.

Sergeant Hutchins however offered a different account of events, telling Mason that as he walked outside asking for a fight the teenager did not follow him and he simply could have walked away instead of running up and striking him.

He also said regardless of who was at fault self defence did not apply in cases of public nuisance and there was no denying the fight had occurred “scaring families and children”.

In sentencing magistrate Kathleen Payne agreed and told Mason that he had demonstrated “a despicable display of violence” and it was clear from the footage he had been trying to get the man to fight.

She also condemned the threats he made to police specifically referencing the tragic Wieambilla shootings.

She did however note it had been almost 10 years since his last offending and the offending was out of character.

Mason was found guilty, fined $800 and no conviction was recorded.