Tourist James Murphy blasted over wild Kings Cross brawl

A scathing magistrate has blasted a “privileged” young tourist embroiled in a “wild, thuggish brawl” in Kings Cross just before Sydney’s ANZAC dawn service that he likened to “cavemen beating each other up”.

A scathing magistrate has blasted a “privileged” young tourist embroiled in a “wild, thuggish brawl” in Kings Cross just before Sydney’s ANZAC dawn service that he likened to “cavemen beating each other up”.

Jersey-born James Murphy was 10 drinks deep when he knocked James Paterson out cold as “revenge” for allegedly repeatedly kicking his unconscious mate in the head in the early hours of April 25.

A wild brawl broke out just before the ANZAC dawn service.

Five of the men were charged with affray.

Five of the six men from England, Scotland and the Channel Islands were charged with affray and banned from the night strip after being filmed fighting as a crowd cheered them on.

Three of the men, James Paterson, Liam Beckford and Cormack Mulally have pleaded not guilty. Christopher Ware pleaded guilty and was fined $1000 in April.

Last month Murphy pleaded guilty and on Tuesday the 27-year-old Bondi Beach-based man was fined $2,000 and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order at Downing Centre Local Court.

MORE NEWS:

Police search for lover after Sydney balcony fall

Body of newborn baby found dumped in backyard

Insta-gym trainer jailed over drugs, weapons and assault

Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Allen said the “solidly middle class” tradie had enjoyed a very privileged start to life and despite travelling the world stooped to “juvenile, puerile, reckless brutality” in Australia.

“Have you really told your parents what you have done with all that privilege? With all that opportunity?” he asked.

“This country doesn’t want people that do this. No country does.”

James Murphy was blasted by the magistrate.

According to court documents, it was alleged Murphy and his friends Liam Beckford, 30, and Christopher Ware began trading blows with 19-year-olds Cormack Mullally and James Paterson about 1.20am on the corner of Darlinghurst and Bayswater roads, agreed facts state.

The magistrate likened the ugly scenes that followed as akin to Neanderthals trying to assert their “misplaced manhood”, cowboy barfights from the Wild West, or the law of the jungle where the strong brutalise the weak.

Ware’s brother James, who has not been charged, was allegedly viciously attacked while his back was turned after trying to break up the scuffle, court documents state.

“Mullaly continues to throw wild and erratic Haymaker-style punches in the direction of James Ware who manages to miss them prior to walking away from the barrage,” it is alleged in the court documents agreed facts state.

It is alleged Paterson then king-hits James Ware from behind before he and Mullally repeatedly kick the 32-year-old in the head as he lies face down on the ground unconscious.

“Ware’s head can now be seen to move significantly as a result,” agreed facts state.

James Murphy was fined $2,000 and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order.

A bystander who filmed the chaos can be heard calling for someone to get an ambulance as James Ware lies motionless on the pavement.

On seeing this, Murphy descends on Paterson “to teach him a lesson,” Mr Allen said.

The shocking footage then captures the painter and Paterson wrestle each other as the fight spills out onto the road.

Murphy knees and punches the teenager in the face until he falls down and blacks out in a gutter before Christopher Ware stands over the top of Paterson and thumps him again.

“Charming, isn’t it? Mr Allen said.

Noone suffered significant injuries and help from paramedics was refused by all men who reeked of booze, had bloodshot eyes and were “unable to be reasoned with rationally”, agreed facts state.

Beckford, a Randwick-based man originally from Jersey, is due back in court alongside Paterson and his Sydney CBD-based roommate Mullally on July 2.

The magistrate said if Murphy wanted to swing punches he should put on boxing gloves and get in the ring, but he could never pummel strangers in the street again.

“No civilised community will accept this kind of conduct. You turn on your heel young man, and you walk away,” he said.

“That’s the sign of a real man. That’s the sign of a real grown up.”

The court heard Murphy and his family back home are “significantly embarrassed” and although his working holiday visa isn’t due to expire until November “he wants to return to Jersey as soon as possible.”

Murphy had been living in Australia for more than a year but will most likely be unable to travel back to Australia again on character grounds, his lawyer said.

Originally published as Tourist James Murphy blasted over wild Kings Cross brawl