‘Absolute menace’ jailed for Aurukun stabbing and hammer attack in street
An Aurukun man described by a judge as a “menace to his community” has been jailed for a “cowardly” hammer attack in the street.
A young Aurukun man who hammered a man’s head four times after the victim had also been stabbed, has been jailed for four years over the “cowardly” attack.
Judge Joshua Trevino KC described Orenthio Koo-oila, 24, as an “absolute menace” to his community of Aurukun, citing Koo-oila’s four-page criminal history, which he had racked up despite his “young age”.
Koo-oila has repeatedly armed himself in the street, made threats, assaulted police, assembled “unlawfully” and “behaved in a violent and anti-social way”, Judge Trevino said.
Koo-oila pleaded guilty in the Cairns District Court this week to charges of unlawful wounding, assault occasioning bodily harm while armed, unlawful assembly and twice obstructing police by running away when they tried to arrest him.
The court was told the drunken violence was meted out on July 30, 2024 by Koo-oila and another man, who threatened a passing teenager with a knife, then set upon the boy’s father after he came to his son’s aid.
Koo-oila’s co-accused was sentenced earlier this month to six years imprisonment for his role in the attack; he stabbed the victim twice – once in the chest and once in the cheek, inflicting 2cm wounds.
“While he was on the ground, you (Koo-oila), in an incredibly cowardly fashion, hit that man four times to the head, jaw and back of his head,” Judge Trevino said, explaining to Koo-oila his “presence and encouragement” meant he was also responsible for the stabbing.
The victim had to be taken from Aurukun to Cairns Hospital for treatment, the court was told.
He said the “stupid and violent things (Koo-oila did) when drunk” would likely land him in jail again and again unless he got help.
Judge Trevino declared 421 days Koo-oila had spent in remand as time served, and set his parole eligibility date at November 30, 2025.
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘Absolute menace’ jailed for Aurukun stabbing and hammer attack in street
