Cristian Gonzalez, Julian Salazar charged over Brighton Le Sands brawl
Two mates have been charged after a man was allegedly bashed with a house brick torn out of a letterbox at a house party in Sydney’s south. One alleged offender was on bail when police say he left his victim with a fractured skull.
St George Shire Standard
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A man accused of repeatedly bashing a house party guest so hard with a brick it fractured his skull and his hand was on bail when the melee broke out and tried to argue he should get bail again because he has asthma.
A court heard Cristian Gonzalez, 40, has a significant history of violence which began just two years after he arrived in Australia from Colombia in 2000, which included six months behind bars for malicious wounding in 2002.
The Brighton Le Sands man is now also charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and breaching COVID-19 social distancing restrictions after he allegedly bashed a man with a house brick pulled from a letterbox at a Brighton Le Sands unit complex on Saturday night while he was on bail for a driving offence.
Police allege a fight broke out at the house party, which exceeded coronavirus gathering restrictions, before Gonzalez allegedly bashed the victim with the brick.
His friend Julian Salazar, 32, is also charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and breaching COVID-19 social distancing restrictions after he allegedly joined the fray.
Magistrate Margaret Quinn at Central Local Court said she agreed it was a strong prosecution case after several witnesses who attended the party as well as independent neighbours made statements to police.
“It’s alleged the defendant has picked up a brick and struck the victim over the back of the head with it,” she said.
“He has fallen to the ground and the co-accused (Salazar) is seen to have punched him to the head and body while the victim was lying on his back trying to cover himself.”
Police allege Gonzalez again picked up the brick and threw it at the victim while he was on the ground, despite onlookers’ attempts to intervene.
The victim was hospitalised with a fractured skull, a fractured hand, a 4cm laceration behind his ear and significant cuts and bruises.
Gonzalez’ Legal Aid solicitor attempted to have him bailed to his home effectively on house arrest due to his severe asthma but his bail was refused.
“It would seem inevitable to my mind that this would result in a full time term of imprisonment upon conviction, bearing in mind he has a history of violence primarily between 2002 and 2008,” Ms Quinn said.
Gonzalez will next face Sutherland Local Court on August 4.
Salazar was granted bail to live at a Rockdale address and abide by a curfew between 9pm and 6am.
He was required to surrender his Australian and Colombian passports and will have to report to Kogarah police once daily.
St George police crime manager Bob Allison said the incident should serve as a warning to community members as coronavirus gathering restrictions are gradually relaxed.
“It’s a timely reminder that the restrictions are still in place and the community still must abide by them, no matter the circumstances,” Mr Allison said.
“Police will still take action.”