Bowie Naava Larnach sentenced for train brawl

A self-proclaimed “king eshay” was armed with a screwdriver when he threatened to stab a passenger and caused frightening scenes on a Sunshine Coast train.

A self-proclaimed eshay caused frightening scenes on-board a Sunshine Coast train when he threatened to stab passengers with a screwdriver.

Bowie Naava Larnach was placed on a six-month suspended prison sentence in Caloundra Magistrates Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to six charges including public nuisance while on-board a Queensland Rail train on December 13, 2021.

Larnach told police he had shared a bottle of bourbon with a friend before he started yelling obscenities and making threats towards other passengers while holding a screwdriver.

Police prosecutor Amanda Brewer said Larnach threatened to stab a passenger with the tool.

The 20-year-old, who had boarded the train at Nambour Station, was also involved in a brawl with two other passengers.

A witness of the fight successfully separated Larnach from the other passengers when he continued to goad the other passengers into a fight.

After being arrested Larnach said he was defending his friend who he claimed was punched several times by two passengers after accidentally knocking a hat off a man’s head.

The Nambour resident denied making threats to stab one of the passengers but admitted to holding the screwdriver in his hand during the fight.

“He stated he did not know the other two passengers involved in the fight, but that they had gotten off the train after getting scared when they found out who he was,” Sergeant Brewer said.

Bowie Naava Larnach was sentenced to a six-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to a public nuisance offence. Picture: Social media/file.

Larnach’s Facebook page boasts photos claiming he is the “cash king eshay” and states he works for EshayReal, a musician based on social media.

Defence solicitor Rachel Holland told the court Larnach, who was born in Brisbane Women’s Correctional Facility had experienced an extremely traumatic childhood that she said was the catalyst behind his offending.

“(He) started committing further offences and using drugs heavily to escape what happened to him as a very young boy,” she said.

Ms Holland said Larnach was unmedicated for post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, reactive detachment disorder and depression but said he had taken steps to improve his life.

She said he had agreed to take part in NDIS-funded counselling, was employed and had family support.

Ms Holland said he was no longer using drugs and was trying “very hard to get his life back on track”.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said Larnach’s “aggressive, violent and threatening behaviour” would have been very frightening for all passengers.

Ms Benson acknowledged Larnach was a “troubled young man” who as a child had been let down by adults.

She said Larnach would become a danger to the public if he did not accept assistance offered to help his rehabilitation.

Ms Benson suspended Larnach’s six-month prison sentence for 12 months.