Alleged bikie Dion Francis Spizzirri sentenced for Gold Coast hospital bashing
An alleged bikie unleashed a violent attack at a Gold Coast hospital before fleeing to the Sunshine Coast. The moments leading up to the assault can now be revealed.
Police & Courts
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Details on what triggered an alleged Comanchero bikie member’s violent outburst at a Gold Coast hospital have been revealed in a Sunshine Coast court.
Dion Francis Spizzirri, 41, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 27 to five charges including failing to provide a saliva specimen, unlicensed driving (repeat offender), assault occasioning bodily harm, breach of bail and wilful damage.
Police said in a press release on January 24 that Spizzirri was a member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, however this was not confirmed in open court.
The court was told Spizzirri had breached his bail by attending the Gold Coast University Hospital outside his curfew hours on January 23.
He had been released on bail for drug and weapons charges on January 17, the court was told. These charges are scheduled to be mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 8.
Police prosecutor Mick Ruddiman said a man sitting across from Spizzirri in the emergency department waiting room was listening to music on his phone, which was turned down on Spizzirri’s request.
Later, Spizzirri was seen on CCTV punching the man several times.
He was gone by the time police arrived, the court was told, but a tamper alert on his ankle bracelet alerted them to his Maudsland home, in the Gold Coast’s north, just before 8am on January 23.
“It was confirmed he was no longer at the address and had cut the monitoring device from his ankle by unknown means and left the bail address in an effort to seem as he was not breaching his bail,” Sergeant Ruddiman said.
Spizzirri was later pulled over in Caloundra where he returned a positive roadside drug test. He was then arrested and charged at the watch house.
Defence lawyer Nathan Hounsell said his client was at the Gold Coast hospital because his elbow was sore, hot and very swollen.
After two hours in the waiting room and having a civil discussion about the victim turning the music down on his phone, Mr Hounsell said the victim began antagonising Spizzirri.
“A heated discussion occurred … I’m instructed there were some … complaints made in the direction of my client, he lost control and punched (the victim) three times,” Mr Hounsell said.
There were no significant injuries.
Spizzirri then “panicked” after the attack and travelled to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital for his sore elbow, Mr Hounsell said.
After his arrest, Spizzirri was taken to hospital and prescribed antibiotics.
Mr Hounsell said Spizzirri had not committed violent offences for more than 11 years, and upon his release would return to living on the Gold Coast with his father and working alongside his brother.
Magistrate Raelene Ellis sentenced Spizzirri to 10 months behind bars with immediate parole. He was also fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for seven months.
The five days he spent in presentence custody were declared time served.
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