Riley Cantarella pleads guilty to grievous bodily harm after punch attack on Ocean St
A drunk Sunshine Coast apprentice who punched a man so hard he needed facial surgery had just been removed from two clubs prior due to his intoxicated state, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Coolum Beach apprentice tradie was removed from two clubs before he delivered a devastating jaw breaking blow to a random punter on Ocean St, a court has heard.
Riley Filip Cantarella was only a few months on from his 18th birthday when he shattered a 20-year-old man’s jaw at Maroochydore’s Safe Night Precinct on October 15, 2022.
Crown prosecutor Rhys Byrne told Maroochydore District Court on Tuesday the victim “felt a crack in his mouth” and was bleeding in the seconds following the strike.
The court heard Cantarella, now aged 19, was drunk about 2am when the victim and a female friend walked past the Coolum Beach teen.
Mr Byrne said the pair exchanged words due to the victim thinking Cantarella made a derogatory comment towards his friend. The court heard the victim did not state what was actually said.
In CCTV shown to the court, the victim walked towards Cantarella and asked what he said when the apprentice stepped to the victim and punched the 20-year-old in the jaw.
Due to the victim’s intoxication he didn’t realise how badly he was injured until quite later, with the court hearing he was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
He suffered a number of facial injuries with the most serious being displaced fractures to his jaw. The victim underwent surgery days later where one of his teeth was removed.
In the victim’s statement to police, he said he had difficulties speaking and eating however the jaw issues had largely resolved besides feeling like his jaw wasn’t as aligned as it should be.
Defence barrister Nathan Turner said the apprentice chippy was drinking excessively at the time and was going through personal issues in the lead up to the attack.
Mr Turner said the teenager told police he had no memory of the punch because he was “so drunk”.
The court heard since being charged, the Sydney born man reduced his drinking and took part in counselling.
Cantarella’s legal team said their client was described as “kind and compassionate” and wasn’t normally a “violent character”.
His barrister said the 19-year-old felt shame and embarrassment for the attack and wrote how deeply sorry he was in a letter to the victim.
Judge Glen Cash said if the victim was left untreated it would’ve left him with a permanent injury from the “quite serious” blow.
The District Court Judge however believed sending the Coolum Beach teenager to jail would not benefit Cantarella or the community due to him gaining maturity and taking part in rehabilitation.
Cantarella pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and was jailed for 18 months.
This was suspended immediately for 18 months.
He was also ordered to pay $5000 to the victim and perform 60 hours community service.
Student accused of having ‘knives, hit list’ and making kill threats
Police are patrolling a Sunshine Coast high school after a bathroom wall graffiti message threatening to stab students was uncovered, with claims the student also had knives and a hit list at school.
Former music store owner guilty of child abuse for second time
Emotions ran high in a Sunshine Coast courtroom as a former businessman was found guilty for the second time of historical child abuse charges after appealing his initial conviction.