Etima Lokondo: Robert Maroun tense wait as magistrate reserves judgment

CCTV has shown the moment a music star punched a man, leaving him needing emergency neurosurgery. But the 31-year-old claims he only acted in self defence.

A man who required emergency neurosurgery after he was punched in the head by a security guard was “belligerent” and “non- compliant” but not aggressive a court has heard.

On Melbourne Cup Day last year Robert Maroun, 27, was found by security guard Etima Lokondo, 31, wandering around the Wilson carpark on George St in the CBD repeatedly attempting to get into a car which did not belong to him.

Lokondo, of Newtown, is an up and coming artist who goes by the stage name ET Le Createur whose dance music features on Triple J Unearthed, and is described as a mix of Afrobeats, House and Classical music genres.

Following the altercation, which was captured on CCTV, Mr Maroun was knocked out and immediately placed in the recovery position by Lokondo.

Musician and security guard Etima Lokondo. Photo: Facebook

Lokondo stands accused of reckless grievous bodily harm with a back up charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Maroun had a three centimetre blood clot removed from his brain at St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst.

Police prosecutor Stuart Coote called cleaner Muklesur Rahman who witnessed the incident to give evidence.

“The security (guard) kept saying ‘you have to go out’ and the other person (Maroun) indicated ‘I’m talking on the phone let me finish my call’,” Mr Rahman said through a Bengali interpreter.

“He was not that aggressive or anything. He was inebriated - he must have taken some alcohol or something.”

Defence lawyer Paul McGirr cross examined Constable Dylan Towell who was first on the scene.

Const. Towell told the court he was a “fairly junior probationary constable at the time” who after reviewing the CCTV footage and not receiving any instructions otherwise from his partner who was his superior, allowed Lokondo to walk free following the incident.

“At the scene when you looked at the CCTV and spoke to my client you were satisfied my client acted in self defence,” Mr McGirr asked.

Musician and security guard Etima Lokondo

“Yes the first time I watched it,” said Const. Towell.

In closing submissions Sgt Coote told the court Lokondo’s actions were uncalled for.

“This was an intoxicated man who over a period of minutes may show a period of belligerence, may show a period of noncompliance,” Sgt Coote said.

“We say the body language of the complainant is not one of aggression. Rude – maybe, he’s on the phone.”

Mr McGirr forensically replayed the CCTV footage to the court repeatedly pausing to show examples of what he said was Mr Maroun looking for a fight.

He said various parts of the footage showed Mr Maroun “goading” Lokondo, “clenching his right fist” and walking with a “staunch body” and “fighting stance”.

“What we have is someone encouraging us to fight, them encroaching on our space on at least three occasions and following my client in a quick manner,” Mr McGirr said.

“The prosecution has failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.”

the Judgement was reserved by the magistrate and will be handed down on August 12.