Houssein Mourtada sentenced for assaulting cinema worker at Miranda Westfield

A soon-to-be father punched, kicked and kneed a staff member after he was not allowed into a movie theatre for free, a court has heard. Find out what sparked the violence.

Houssein Mourtada outside court. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A soon-to-be father who punched, kicked and kneed in a ‘cowardly and brutal attack’ on a Miranda cinema worker was triggered by a “your mum” slur, a court has heard.

Houssein Mourtada, 23, of Wolli Creek pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

Agreed facts tendered to court state a man was working at Event Cinemas in Miranda Westfield with a manager about 9pm on April 5 last year when Mourtada, his wife and two men entered.

The group walked up to the worker, who was cleaning, and Mourtada asked if he could be let into the movie for free.

The man refused and Mourtada said, “come on bro”. On walking away, Mourtada said “nice fringe” which the man ignored.

Houssein Mourtada was convicted and fined $1000 for assaulting a cinema staff member.

Mourtada then said “do you pay taxes” to which the victim responded, “I pay your mum’s taxes”.

Mourtada and the worker walked towards each other and when the manager approached the group and a verbal exchange unfolded.

The staff member tried to walk away before one of the men in Mourtada’s group started fighting with him.

The worker retreated into the doorway of the movie theatre before Mourtada followed him and started punching him.

Mourtada then hit the man using his right knee and in self defence the worker punched back.

He fell to the ground and Mourtada kicked him once, then punched him before Mourtada walked away, yelling at the manager.

Police were called and spoke to the staff member who said he had head pain, swelling, a sore thumb and blood around his nose from a cut.

The incident was captured on CCTV and police traced the car the group left in, before Mourtada was arrested on October 6.

In court, defence lawyer Deng Adut said Mourtada had committed no other offences since being charged, and had undertaken anger management and counselling.

Mr Adut said his client was young and his wife was due to give birth soon, adding Mourtada was employed and wanted to start his own business in the future.

Mr Adut said his client had not been convicted of similar violent offences before but did have a traffic record.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said Mourtada’s actions were “cowardly” because he got involved in a fight when the victim was already being attacked.

“It was a cowardly and brutal attack,” he said. “You didn’t need to do it and you thought you had to step in.”

Mourtada was convicted, was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order and fined $1000.