Joab Wosomo jailed for brick attack in Biloela street fight

Father of four’s ‘cowardly’ attack as victim took shirt off in preparation for a consensual fight before brutal brick attack.

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A bloody street fight, started by a man with a very violent criminal record, was consensual a court has heard.

Joab Wosomo, 39, was jailed last week for a “cowardly” manoeuvre he carried out in the street fight that took place in February in Biloela.

Wosomo pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on December 8 to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed.

Crown prosecutor Matthew Sutton said this was not Wosomo’s first violent act.

His seven-page criminal record included convictions for wounding after breaking into his partner’s place twice, punching a man who told him there were no jobs available, punching and kicking a woman during an argument and throwing bottles at her, pushing a caravan park employee to the ground and punching him because he asked Wosomo to stop fighting with his partner, and later punching a family member who tried to intervene in a domestic dispute.

“The defendant assaulted another man who had bad blood with,” Mr Sutton said.

“The defendant and the victim were engaged in what appeared to be a consensual fight, albeit that consent was no longer present when the defendant used a brick to attack the victim.”

The court heard the victim sustained a laceration to his eyebrow and forearm.

Wosomo was on probation at the time of the offence and didn’t complete the counselling assigned to him.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said her client preferred to work when it was available, which was why he hadn’t complied with probation but will make counselling a priority this time.

She said Wosomo had worked as a painter, mechanic, fisherman, fence builder, in a meatworks, in demolition, and on trawlers.

Ms Marsden said her client had been in a relationship for eight years with the mother of his four children.

She said Wosomo grew up in the Torres Straits and had 10 siblings.

Ms Marsden said her client wished to apologise to the victim.

Judge Jeff Clarke said what Wosomo did was “cowardly” and as the victim was taking his shirt off to get ready for the fight, Wosomo hit him in the head with the brick, knocking the victim to the ground.

He said Wosomo continued his assault on the victim.

Judge Clarke sentenced Wosomo to 2.5 years in prison, declared 299 days pre-sentence custody and set parole release for December 12, 2023.