Antoine Lai: Law student jailed for attack on Darlinghurst housemate

A court heard a law student had drunk alcohol for the first time on the night he kicked his housemate in the head, causing a bleed on the brain.

A young Frenchman jailed for booting his housemate in the head and causing a bleed to his brain on Christmas Eve had never drunken alcohol before that day, a court has heard.

French national Antoine Lai, 20, was visibly shocked as he was sent to prison for at least three months on Wednesday.

Lai was living in Australia for less than a year when the violent attack unfolded late on December 24 at Bondi Junction.

Antoine Lai outside court earlier this year. Picture: John Grainger

Following a day out with friends, and while waiting for a bus, Lai pushed his housemate Olyvan Barbier to the ground.

Lai then booted Barbier to the right side of his head causing him to lose consciousness.

The agreed facts stated Lai, who had earlier consumed two alcoholic drinks, fled the scene leaving his friends to look after Barbier.

“That was the first time he drank alcohol in his life,” his lawyer claimed.

“His friend had teased him and they got into an argument which got out of control.”

Antoine Lai. Picture: John Grainger

The force of the kick was so severe Barbier was admitted to hospital and tests showed he suffered a brain bleed from the assault.

However, the court was told the victim was allegedly released from hospital the following day.

The former law student was sentenced in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday for one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm which he previously pleaded guilty to.

Magistrate Ross Hudson was not impressed when he heard Lai had not taken up anger management counselling following the attack.

He said the defendant was “conscious of what his actions would have done” that day, and he did not accept he was heavily impaired by alcohol having only consumed two beverages over a long duration.

Magistrate Hudson said this was a severe example of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and would not be tolerated.

He was sentenced at Waverley Local Court.

“This is someone down on the ground who is then kicked to the head which caused a bleed to the brain.”

Lai was convicted and sentenced to a jail term of 12 months with a non-parole period of three months. His young age was taken into account in setting the non-parole period.

The court heard Lai is a law student from France who arrived in Australia early last year for a working holiday.

He had known the victim for about eight months prior to the attack and they had been living in the same house in Darlinghurst.

Lai was visibly shocked to learn his fate after his French interpreter explained the sentence. He handed over his backpack to the court officers before being led away to the cells.

His lawyer did not appeal the sentence as of Wednesday.