Larry Thomas Murchie found guilty of spitting in woman’s face

A mother has recalled the moment a man on a Vespa spat in her face after a heated altercation during which he used his moped to assault her.

South Mackay resident Larry Murchie found guilty to common assault, wilful damage and being a public nuisance near the River St boat ramp.

A mother has recalled the moment a man on a Vespa spat in her face after a heated altercation during which he used his moped to assault her near a boat ramp on Mackay’s city fringe.

Larry Thomas Murchie has been called on to prove why he should keep his licence after he used his moped in the random attack.

Rebecca Cole had been on her phone in a four-wheel drive when she said a man angrily told her that her vehicle, which was running, was too loud.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard the man, identified as Murchie, began pushing down on the bull bar of her Prado, while making eye contact and gesturing with his middle finger.

South Mackay's Larry Murchie (front) was found guilty of spitting on a woman after ramming her car with his Vesper.

“He was saying ‘your car is too noisy’,” Ms Cole said.

The court heard Murchie then revved his engine and “full-on reversed into the side” of Ms Cole’s Prado causing scratches and dents.

Ms Cole then stepped out of her car and told Murchie she was using her phone to film him, to which she said he started “swinging at me, trying to hit me”.

It was not clear what he was swinging.

Ms Cole told the court Murchie nudged her legs with his Vespa while “he was swinging at me”.

She said the wheel of his bike was hitting her legs.

“I was pretty shaken up,” she said during a court hearing on Wednesday.

Murchie had pleaded not guilty to the charged but after hearing from five witnesses he was found guilty by a magistrate.

Murchie then turned his bike “and when he started to take off, he turned around and spat at me”, Ms Cole said.

“It just sprayed all in my face.”

Murchie pleaded not guilty to one count each of common assault, being a public nuisance and wilful damage on April 8, 2020.

Five witnesses including Ms Cole gave evidence after which Mr Dwyer found him guilty of the three offences.

However his case will not be finalised until later this year as Murchie is charged with an alleged assault in November 2021, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

That matter has been listed for hearing in June.