Counter-terrorism security specialist pushed to the edge, ’smashes’ brother
The Ferny Hills man told the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court the assault came after years of escalating family tension.
North Lakes Times
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A former security specialist, who trained under the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, faced Pine Rivers Magistrates Court today for repeatedly punching his brother in the face.
Benjamin John Mckennariey, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm for an incident that occurred on August 16.
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The court heard Mckennariey, who boasts two masters degrees in police counter-terrorism and international security studies, had been drinking heavily with his brother Michael Mckennariey at their shared home in Ferny Hills.
The lawyer for the defence said years of family conflict and tension came to a head when Mckennariey’s brother began to play music too loudly, “putting him over the edge”.
A verbal argument ensued and escalated to violence just before 2am, when Mckennariey approached his brother in the kitchen and punched him with a closed fist a number of times, causing swelling, cuts and bruising for which his brother was forced to seek medical attention.
Police were called to the scene and Mckennariey told them he’d “smashed” the victim, then tried to retract his statement and denied the assault.
Mckennariey has since moved out of the home to avoid further conflict, which his lawyer claimed was “exacerbated or caused by (the brother’s) drug use”.
Mckennariey’s lawyer asked the judge not to record a conviction against his client, as he had left the security industry to become a professional chess teacher and required a blue card to continue his work.
Magistrate Trevor Morgan said the offence was a serious one, but given the unusual circumstances of Mckennariey’s relationship with his brother, sentenced Mckennariey to a 12 month $1000 good behaviour bond and did not record a conviction against him.