Matthew Alan Warner charged over alleged Caloundra king hit

There were emotional scenes in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court as the significant injuries suffered by a man allegedly king hit at the weekend were documented.

Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Sunshine Coast man has been charged in relation to an alleged violent assault at Kings Beach over the weekend which has left another man in hospital with traumatic head injuries.

Mooloolah Valley father Matthew Alan Warner, 32, appeared on video link in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday, March 21 charged with grievous bodily harm and drug possession.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Rebecca Lambert told the court the injuries sustained by the complainant were significant and described the actions of Mr Warner as being alcohol-fuelled violence.

“He (the alleged victim) is still listed as critical, however his condition does appear to be improving, he does have a severe traumatic brain injury,” Constable Lambert said.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist read the court a witness statement, in which “a smaller male” is alleged to have coward punched the victim before punching him again outside a licensed venue at Kings Beach.

“He keeps talking about the small one being the aggressor,” Magistrate Stjernqvist said.

The court was told an incident between the pair appeared to be resolved, according to the witness statement, before the “smaller male” punched the victim.

“The smaller male came back and appeared to apologise to the bigger male, they were talking to each other face-to-face, the conversation appeared to be normal, didn’t appear to be aggressive,” Magistrate Stjernqvist said.

“Without warning while both were talking to each other the smaller male king hit the bigger male with a right closed fist and knocked him out flat.”

Magistrate Stjernqvist said he believed the smaller man to be Mr Warner.

Defence solicitor Liesel Rogan told the court there was the possibility Mr Warner was acting in self-defence.

“Mr Warner presents a version to police that suggests there is a question of whether self-defence might be something that is open,” Ms Rogan said.

Constable Lambert told the court there was the chance further charges may be added or upgraded in the future, depending on the outcome of the victim.

The court was told the men were not known to each other before the incident.

Mr Warner was granted bail and is set to appear in the Caloundra Magistrates Court next month.