Upper Coomera neighbourhood row ends with man run over and leg broken

A Southport Coast Guard commander ran over a man in his street after a neighbourhood row turned ugly, the Southport District Court has heard.

A SOUTHPORT Coast Guard commander ran over a man in his street because he was frustrated by noise made by a go-kart, the Southport District Court has heard.

Kenneth Albert Stanley maintains the act was not deliberate and he did not mean to hit Bruce Pinkerton.

Stanley pleaded guilty this morning to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.

But his sentence has been deferred as the prosecution and Stanley cannot agree what happened that night.

Kenneth Stanley leaving Southport courthouse. Picture: Lea Emery

It is in dispute whether Stanley turned the wheel and deliberately drove into Mr Pinkerton or if it was an accident caused by a moment of inattention.

Outside court Mr Pinkerton, a taxi driver, who was left with a broken leg after the incident on July 1, 2017 on Forest Oak Drive, Upper Coomera, said he was disappointed.

“Once again they have extended it out, they have taken longer and longer to come to the inevitable,” he said.

Earlier in court Mr Pinkerton explained his version of what happened.

He said the incident started when he and Jeff Evans, Stanley’s neighbour, were making noise with a go-kart.

Taxi driver Bruce Pinkerton is disappointed with the delay of sentencing Kenneth Stanley, who ran over his leg. Picture: Lea Emery

Stanley came out of his and reversed down the street, stopping outside Mr Evans’ home.

Mr Evans had left on the go-kart.

“I approached the car because it was a ridiculous over reaction and I told him to take the car home before someone got hurt,” he said.

Mr Pinkerton told the court Stanley yelled back at him.

“He said, ‘when he comes back I am going to run him (Mr Evans) over and kill him’,” he said.

Stanley denied this.

“I had no conversation with Mr Pinkerton,” he told the court.

Stanley said he was in a car which he was unfamiliar with and had been looking down at the gears.

He maintains the wheels had been pointed towards Mr Pinkerton and he did not turn the wheel.

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Stanley has been the commander of the QF1 Coast Guard boat since 2010 and spent 23 years in the air force.

Stanley remained quiet and composed during court proceedings.

Bruce Pinkerton was run over by a 4WD outside his home.

But outside court one of his supporters grabbed the phone of a Bulletin reporter.

The matter was adjourned to allow the prosecution and Stanley’s legal team a chance to agree on the chain of events.

If they cannot, a judge will make a determination based on evidence heard in court.

The matter will return to court on January 17.