Gavin James Batchelor, 28, refused bail after alleged assault on ‘close friend’

An alleged altercation which left a man with horrific injuries, including a punctured lung, stemmed from a disagreement over an unpaid Uber bill, a court has heard.

A Logan man who allegedly assaulted another person so severely he was left with a punctured lung has said his victim was “one of his closest friends”, a court has heard.

Gavin James Batchelor, 28, of Mount Warren appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 26 to apply for bail.

He stands charged with one count of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, an offence which is alleged to have occurred in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, July 14.

Prosecutor KC Cheong said sometime between 4am and 5.30am on the day in question, Batchelor, his girlfriend and two other people attended an address at Beenleigh where the alleged victim was staying.

She told the court Batchelor asked the alleged victim to meet him outside “to talk”.

“The complainant complied and stepped outside the door, at which time the defendant Batchelor punched the victim in the face, causing him to fall on the ground in the garden bed,” Ms Cheong said.

She alleged Batchelor continued to assault the complainant for some time, eventually stopping and allowing him to get up and re-enter the home.

Ms Cheong said the alleged victim removed his clothes after observing blood “pouring” out of his left arm, finding a wound to his rib area.

The court heard he attempted to dress his injury but was having difficulty breathing.

Emergency services were called and transported him to Princess Alexandra Hospital for treatment.

Ms Cheong said the alleged victim suffered seven wounds behind his left shoulder area, one large laceration to his left elbow which required three stitches, and one wound to his left rib area, which revealed a punctured lung.

She said Batchelor had since confirmed “some” of the facts mentioned in the alleged victim’s statement but denied being armed or stabbing anyone.

The court heard he told authorities there had been a disagreement about a $100 Uber bill the alleged victim owed Batchelor’s girlfriend.

Defence solicitor Greg Lutvey said his client accepted he was at the address at the relevant time and the alleged victim was “one of his closest friends”.

“He denies any use of a weapon,” Mr Lutvey said.

“He instructs me that he does not agree with the facts as alleged.”

He said it could not be determined from the agreed facts who caused the man’s injuries.

Magistrate Michael O’Driscoll noted Batchelor’s lengthy criminal history, the seriousness of the charge before the court and that the facts were disputed by the accused.

He refused Batchelor’s application for bail on the grounds he posed an “unacceptable” risk of committing further offences, failing to appear in court when required and endangering the safety of his alleged victim.

The matter will return to Beenleigh Magistrates Court on September 28 for committal-mention.