Zac Connell and Darren George Connell in court for assault
A father and son violently assaulted a man outside a Queensland hotel after the victim allegedly used racial slurs, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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A father and son who violently assaulted a man they claim was hurling racial slurs have both faced court.
Zac Connell, 20, and his father Darren George Connell, 53, both pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm when they faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.
The court heard the incident happened on July 24, 2024, at the Granville Tavern.
About 9pm, the victim left the hotel and went to the carpark, where he was confronted by Darren Connell.
Darren had requested a consensual fight, putting his fists up, the court heard.
But the victim crossed his arms and refused.
The court was told Zac repeatedly struck the victim in the face and body.
The victim fell to the ground and grazed his face before Zac left the location.
On August 15, police attended Zac’s address.
He did not participate in an interview with police, the court was told.
Darren had also struck the victim in the face during the attack at the hotel, it heard.
The victim had a pre-existing brain injury, and since the incident had needed to undergo further testing regarding that injury.
The court heard Zac had no prior criminal history and he regretted the offending, which the consumption of alcohol had played a major part in.
Defence lawyer Michael Riedel said Zac had grown up with his brother and father.
He said his client wanted to start his own concreting business.
On the day of the offence he had been celebrating his brother’s birthday at the hotel, Mr Riedel said.
Zac had started drinking shots of rum.
“He has no intention of ever doing that again,” Mr Riedel said, adding that his client had cut back on the consumption of alcohol since the incident.
Mr Riedel said there had been an incident with the victim in which he had allegedly directed “racial abuse” at Zac’s brother and father, including calling them “black c—s”.
Magistrate John Milburn said Zac was young and he accepted the submission that the incident was out of character.
Zac was fined $1500 and ordered to pay $750 in compensation to the victim.
No conviction was recorded.
The court heard Darren had dated but relevant entries on his criminal history.
Defence lawyer Morgan Harris also said his client had called the other man out for a consensual fight over racial comments.
The court heard CCTV footage had captured the assault, but had not included audio to back up the claims of racial abuse.
Darren was also ordered to pay $750 in compensation and he was placed on probation for 18 months.
A conviction was recorded.
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