Jack Avimeleki-Regan: Young dad says victim of brutal bashing ‘deserved it’

A man who pleaded guilty to a brutal bashing that left his victim coughing up blood told authorities the man “deserved it”, a court has heard.

A young man charged with the brutal, repeated bashing of another person on a street told authorities his victim “deserved it”, a court has heard.

Jack Avimeleki-Regan, 26, faced Beenleigh District Court on Friday, July 15 on one charge of grievous bodily harm which he pleaded guilty to in April this year.

The court heard the offending took place on February 29, 2020.

About 9 or 10pm that evening, the complainant was drinking at his friend’s house at Heritage Park when Avimeleki-Regan popped his head over the fence before walking away.

Prosecutor Alex Vanenn said the occupant of the house, the complainant, and some six other people saw him and decided to follow Avimeleki-Regan.

“There was then a confrontation involving the occupants of the house,” Mr Vanenn said.

“There was a verbal altercation. The other male the defendant was with threw punches at the occupant of the house.”

The court heard the altercation ended and the occupants started walking away.

The victim, who was towards the back of the group, heard footsteps following behind him. He turned to see Avimeleki-Regan strike him in the face.

Jack Avimeleki-Regan, 26. Picture: Facebook

Mr Vanenn said he felt dizzy but managed to stay on his feet, but Avimeleki-Regan punched him a second time to his chin and he began coughing up blood.

Avimeleki-Regan continued to strike the man until someone stepped between them and the situation defused.

The victim was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and sustained two fractures to his jaw, one down the middle of his chin and one to the right, lower base of his jaw.

He remained in hospital for four days and had to undergo surgery, during which plates were inserted in his jaw.

Mr Vanenn said Avimeleki-Regan made comments to police that the complainant “deserved it”.

Defence barrister Mr Carter asked Judge Deborah Holliday QC to consider his client’s remorse and the steps he had taken to address his issues with alcohol and anger management.

He told the court Avimeleki-Regan had a difficult and dysfunctional childhood, suffering attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and being expelled from school in Year 10.

Mr Carter said he was a family man with a bright future, having just recently had his first child with his partner who attested to Avimeleki-Regan’s “extreme remorse” and “deep regret”.

The matter was adjourned briefly so Avimeleki-Regan’s counsel could make contact with the relevant psychologist regarding the young man’s “actual diagnosis”, but he was unable to.

The sentence was moved to October 28 this year and Avimeleki-Regan’s bail was enlarged, as Ms Holliday said she was of the view he did not pose an unacceptable risk of failing to appear.