The Corso, Manly: Man appeals sentence for drunken late night brawl

Farewell drinks at the pub for a mate ended in a wild late night brawl on the northern beaches. See what happened in Manly court.

Police officers on foot patrol on The Corso at Manly had to intervene in an alcohol-fuelled late night brawl which led to two men being charged with affray. File picture: Jim O'Rourke

A man convicted of his part in a wild alcohol-fuelled late night brawl after leaving a northern beaches’ pub has appealed the severity of his sentence.

Italo William Guimaraes Dos Santos, 34, was convicted in Manly Local Court on October 27 of one count of affray after a violent confrontation between two groups of revellers on The Corso at Manly.

Dos Santos, a Brazilian father of two from Narrabeen, who has been in Australia for seven years, pleaded guilty and was fined $1000.

Italo William Guimaraes Dos Santos, 35, of Narrabeen, outside Manly Local Court on Thursday, where he was convicted of affray after a late night brawl on The Corso at Manly. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Magistrate Susan Horan told him that the maximum sentence for affray was seven years jail, but that she was only fining him because of his lack of a criminal record and his remorse.

Immediately after the matter was finished, Dos Santas lodged an appeal, in the NSW District Court, against the severity of the fine.

The court had heard that Dos Santos had been out at farewell drinks in Manly for a friend on Friday, November 19 last year.

Soon after leaving the Hotel Steyne at 1.35am on the Saturday, he and a male friend became involved in a verbal confrontation with a trio of strangers — two men and a woman.

Italo William Guimaraes Dos Santos (right), 35, of Narrabeen, with his solicitor outside Manly Local Court on Thursday. Dos Santos said he wished he had “walked away” from the fight. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

The court heard that an intoxicated Dos Santos said “hello” to the woman and that her male companions then said “something nasty” back to him.

In an agreed set of facts tendered to court, police stated that the trio tried to walk away, towards Manly Wharf, but Dos Santos’ mate continued to make comments towards the woman and was told to “f*** off” by one of her male friends.

“(Dos Santos) heard the remark and began punching in the direction of the male,” the facts sheet stated.

A larger fight began when the second male friend of the woman tried to push Dos Santos away.

Police patrolling on The Corso saw the brawl and had to separate the fighters.

Police officers on foot patrol on The Corso at Manly had to separate the two groups of brawlers. File picture: Jim O'Rourke

As his mate was being arrested Dos Santos being filming officers on his mobile phone and asking for their police badge numbers. He and his friend were both arrested and charged with affray.

In a letter of apology to the magistrate, Dos Santos wrote he was embarrassed by his actions and that he normally did not drink that much alcohol.

“I really, really regret getting involved in this fight at Manly,” he wrote.

“I always want to set a good example for my kids and I know this is not how to behave.

“I am sorry for causing fear to other people.

“I know I should have walked away.”