Jamahl Christopher Martin charged over head kick at Pialba pub

A man has faced the Hervey Bay court after allegedly inflicting a sickening kick to the head of a 50-year-old outside a Pialba pub. The alleged victim is still fighting for life.

A man charged over a sickening kick to the head which has allegedly left a 50-year-old Dundowran Beachman still fighting for life faced the Hervey Bay court on Tuesday.

Jamahl Christopher Martin, 26, is accused of knocking the 50-year-old out with a kick to the head following a minor argument outside the Bay Central Tavern at Hervey Bay on Sunday night.

Mr Martin appeared at the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court via video link from the Hervey Bay watch house on Tuesday morning on one count of grievous bodily harm. He did not enter a plea.

His lawyer, who appeared via phone call, told the court he was in the process of obtaining bail affidavit rejections from the prosecution before being able to take instructions from Mr Martin.

Magistrate Stephen Guttridge told Mr Martin’s lawyer he would adjourn the case for committal mention.

“He is in a show cause situation,” Mr Guttridge said.

Mr Guttridge told Mr Martin he would be remanded in custody and would be excused from attending his next scheduled appearance.

“It’s been adjourned for a committal mention because this court can’t deal with the matter,” he said.

The matter will be heard again on March 24, 2022 unless a bail application is made.

Police will allege Mr Martin’s kick knocked a man to the pavement at Hervey Bay, causing major head trauma.

The man was rushed to Hervey Bay Hospital on Sunday night, but his condition was too serious to airlift to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital until Monday morning, where he remained on Tuesday in a critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery.

Police said the man’s prognosis was not good.

“He is still in a very critical condition, and we are very worried for his health,” said Maryborough CIB detective senior sergeant Dave Harbison.

“Our thoughts go out to him and his next of kin.”

Det Harbison said police would allege the pair had been drinking together on good terms during the day at different Hervey Bay venues before ending up outside the tavern where a minor comment set off the alleged act.

He said the men had not been particularly known to each other but had met through the course of the day.

“They had been amicable all day,” he said.

Police allege the man was trying to leave the situation when Mr Martin went “over the top and kicked him in the head.”

Detective Harbison said it was another sad example of an incident that didn’t need to happen.

“This is life, this is not a video game,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we have a man in a critical condition in hospital and a man in a watchhouse, who if convicted of these offences will go to jail for a very long time.”

“We are trying to reduce the harm and the trauma to our community – take a breath and walk away – it’s just not worth it over such a minor incident.”

Mr Martin has been charged with grievous bodily harm.

He will spend the night in custody and is due to appear in Hervey Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.