William Rees Mahe: Helensvale concreter jailed for stabbing security guard at Treetops Tavern

The 27-year-old man pleaded guilty to eight violent offences after he and an older friend engaged in a brutal, protracted attack on a security guard. A pair of cops were also blasted with a fire extinguisher.

Helensvale man William Rees Mahe, 27, depicted circa 2019. Picture: Facebook

A young Gold Coast concreter has been sent back to jail after admitting to stabbing a security guard at a Burleigh Waters pub during a sickening, protracted two-on-one assault.

Helensvale man William Rees Mahe, 27, appeared in Southport District Court on Monday, May 12, where he pleaded guilty to an eight-count indictment.

His charges were three counts each of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and in company, and serious assault of a police officer while armed, as well as one count each of common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm while in company.

All offences occurred at Burleigh Waters venue Treetops Tavern in the early hours of Monday, October 23, 2023.

Helensvale man William Rees Mahe, 27, depicted circa 2019. Picture: Facebook

Mahe and a co-defendant, Southport man James Desmond Murphy, 43, who has already been sentenced, attended the pub several times throughout the evening prior.

On the last occasion they attended, they attempted to force a locked sliding door and eventually gained access over the protests of a male security guard, Crown prosecutor Ayesha Black told the court.

Once inside, the pair launched a savage, protracted attack on the security guard, with Murphy punching the guard in the head repeatedly while Mahe held him in a headlock.

A male patron attempted to intervene, but Mahe punched him in the head, while Murphy continued his assault on the security guard, swinging up to 23 punches to the guard’s head.

Ms Black told the court the guard escaped into a staff area but was followed by Murphy and Mahe, who were told by the terrified guard, “Please stop, don’t do this, I have children.”

James Desmond Murphy, 43. Picture: File

Murphy kept punching him as Mahe armed himself with a butter knife from the bistro and stabbed the guard five times in the back of the head, causing a 3.5cm laceration and a haematoma.

The patron who Mahe previously punched again put himself in harm’s way, attempting to intervene, but he was beaten to the ground and kicked for his troubles.

Police arrived and were able to subdue Murphy after hitting him with a taser, but Mahe armed himself with a fire extinguisher and blasted two officers before lobbing chairs at them, which missed.

He finally surrendered after becoming cornered in a part of the pub.

Mahe was on parole at the time of the offending, having been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with immediate court-ordered parole by the Southport District Court on March 7, 2022, after pleading guilty to participating in a gang bashing of a man.

Treetops Tavern at Burleigh Waters. Picture: Facebook/ Treetops Tavern

His parole was suspended the day after the current offending, October 24, 2023, and he served out 135 days before being released on March 6 last year.

Defence counsel James McNab told the court his client, a concreter who retains the support of his family, suffered from a variety of psychiatric conditions including ADHD and schizophrenia.

At the time of the offending he was intoxicated and not taking his medication, Mr McNab added.

He said his client was now managing his mental health, kicking goals professionally, and should be afforded the opportunity to stay in the community.

Mr McNab pointed out that Murphy, who pleaded guilty to five counts of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of three years, thus avoiding jail.

However, Judge Dzenita Balic said there were aspects of Mahe’s offending that made it objectively more serious.

She sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment, partially suspended after serving three months, for an operational period of two years.

Originally published as William Rees Mahe: Helensvale concreter jailed for stabbing security guard at Treetops Tavern