Samuel James Deahm pleads guilty to common assault in Brisbane court
A teenage tradie has told a court he would not be paying compensation to a man he punched outside a popular Brisbane pub. Here’s why.
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A teenager who punched a man outside a popular Brisbane pub has conceded he “lost his cool”, a court has heard.
Samuel James Deahm appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, November 23 and pleaded guilty to common assault.
The 18-year-old labourer was charged after punching a man who he believed had spiked his drinks outside Lutwyche pub the Crown Hotel on September 24.
Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told the court Deahm fled the scene after the assault, running off in an eastbound direction, and was followed by the victim to his home in Windsor.
He then walked to his own home and called police and ambulance services.
Mr Coburn said police arrived at the victim’s residence, took him to hospital, and later attended the Windsor address provided to them.
Deahm answered the door and made “full admissions” to assaulting the victim outside the pub.
“He stated that he’d lost his cool thinking that the victim had spiked his drinks earlier,” Mr Coburn said.
Mr Coburn proposed that Deputy Chief Magistrate Stephen Courtney have Deahm pay his victim $500 compensation as he was subject to a good behaviour bond when he offended.
Deahm’s lawyer told the court her client accepted the allegations against him but was reluctant to offer a payment of compensation to his victim given the context of his offending.
She said the 18-year-old was working full time for a labour hire company and had hopes to complete an electrical apprenticeship.
The court heard Deahm had previously been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain related to an ACL injury sustained while playing football and a crushed ankle from a car accident.
Mr Courtney told the man “one punch can kill” and explained he was “lucky” he did not severely injure his victim.
Taking into consideration Deahm’s young age, employment, psychological struggles, family support, and criminal history — he last came before the court six weeks before the assault for unrelated offending — Mr Courtney sentenced him to 12 months’ probation.
No convictions were recorded.
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