Liam, Jakeb Walker sentenced for Ocean St Uber driver brawl

Two brothers who assaulted two Uber drivers and damaged a vehicle in a brutal, six-minute long brawl have been sentenced in court.

Two brothers have been sentenced for an Ocean St brawl.

Two brothers have been sentenced in court for assaulting two Uber drivers in a brutal Ocean Street brawl and robbery caught on CCTV footage.

Brothers Jakeb Daniel Walker, 21, and Liam Joshua Walker, 20, pleaded guilty to assault and stealing charges at Maroochydore District Court on Monday, March 6 and a sentence was handed down on Thursday, March 9.

On Monday, the court was told the brothers had been drinking on Ocean St on November 20, 2021, when Liam asked a driver for a lift.

Crown prosecutor Joana Dias said there was a stern discussion between Liam Walker and the Uber driver, including a moment where Walker walked away using offensive language about the driver’s ethnicity before turning around to blow smoke in the driver’s face.

Liam Joshua Walker

The conversation grew more heated, Ms Dias said, before the younger Walker brother swung at the driver and the two fell to the ground.

It was the start of a brawl between the group, the driver and another driver who intervened.

Ms Dias said one of the cars was damaged after Walker punched and kicked it.

During the fight, a number of the driver’s belongings, including a phone, were strewn in the street and stolen by the eldest Walker brother, Jakeb, the court was told.

Three of the group were later arrested, though Jakeb Walker was found “hiding under a tree” in a Cotton Tree park, Ms Dias said. The stolen items were found on him and the phone was buried in the sand nearby.

The first driver was taken to hospital and treated for a broken elbow, the court was told.

The attack was filmed by witnesses and caught on CCTV, the latter of which was shown in court.

Ms Dias said the first driver lost $10,000 in income after not driving for six weeks while recovering and had since relocated elsewhere.

Jakeb Daniel Walker

The second driver could no longer drive for long periods of time, she told the court.

Defence barrister Clare Hurley, who represented Liam Walker, said her client had been diagnosed with PTSD after the tragic death of his mother when he was young.

She said he worked as a labourer and was described as a “good employee”. He had quit drinking after the attack and written a letter of apology to the court.

Defence barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown, who represented Jakeb Walker, said his client had taken up binge-drinking in the wake of his mother’s death when he was 17; but like his brother, had since stopped.

Mr Ygoa-McKeown said his client, a diesel mechanic, had pulled his friends out of the scuffle, and did not get involved until he saw his brother still tangled in the brawl and stepped in to defend him.

The eldest Walker brother pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in company and in a public place while intoxicated, stealing and three charges of common assault.

The youngest Walker brother pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in company and in a public place while intoxicated, wilful damage and two charges of common assault.

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Gary Long noted competing considerations including their young age and the positive prospects for their future, while their supporters were emotional as they awaited the decision.

Jakeb Walker was given 12 months’ probation and required to serve 120 hours of community service.

No conviction was recorded against him.

He was fined a total of $6000 in compensation.

Liam Walker, was given two years behind bars but was immediately released on parole.

He was given 240 hours of community service and fined $5000 in compensation.