Damien and Dion Kocka guilty of disgraceful Logan bashing
A Logan pair have been sentenced in court after driving to a man’s house with “violence” on their minds over a toolbox dispute.
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A Logan father, enraged by a dispute with an associate over a borrowed toolbox, enlisted the help of his son to go around to the man’s house to administer a severe bashing, a court has heard.
Tanah Merah man Damien Joseph Kocka, 46, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Monday to assault occasioning bodily harm, while his son Dion Joseph Kocka, 28, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.
Their victims were Tanah Merah man Barry Panos, 65, who suffered a broken jaw and collarbone, and his son Nicholas Panos, who sustained a broken nose.
The court heard the offences occurred on the evening of November 13, 2017.
The elder Panos was known to Damien, the court heard, and there had been simmering tensions between the two over a toolbox.
On the night in question, Damien phoned Panos senior to offer some “strong words”, according to Judge Deborah Richards, before deciding to sort things out in person.
“You deliberately drove to the complainants’ house to confront them,” Judge Richards said.
“You must have known there would be violence.”
Crown prosecutor Stephen Kissick, meanwhile, said the “altercation was inevitable” as Damien did not take the toolbox in question with him to the Panos’ residence, by way of making peace.
When at the Panos’ Abang Ave, Tanah Merah, there was “argy-bargy” which led to Dion Kocka punching Panos senior once to the upper body.
“Punching a 65-year-old man with force is disgraceful,” Judge Richards said.
When Panos’ son Nicholas attempted to engage Dion, Damien stepped in with “excessive force”, breaking Nicholas’ nose.
The pair then decamped the scene, the court heard, without rendering aid.
A subsequent search of the Kockas’ residence revealed Dion was in possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
The court heard Damien, a former Trinity College Beenleigh student, was respected in the community and had his own epoxy flooring business, which fell over after losing a major contract, caused by his onerous bail conditions.
The court likewise heard Dion was also an upstanding member of the community, who coached a junior sports team and volunteered in wildlife rescue.
Both men offered to pay their victims compensation.
Judge Richards agreed that the offending was out of character for the pair.
Dion was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for four years, while Damien was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years.
Dion was ordered to pay $5000 compensation to Panos senior, while Damien was ordered to pay $2000 to his victim.
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