John Albert Oakley found not guilty of grievous bodily harm in Southport District Court over alleged Carrara caravan park attack

A one-punch trial had to be abandoned after a juror was coward punched on a night out. A fresh jury has since delivered a verdict.

A ONE-PUNCH trial in the Southport District Court had to be abandoned when a juror was unable to show up after being coward punched on a night out.

The juror, who cannot be named, suffered serious head injuries when bashed on the Glitter Strip.

When he didn’t arrive at court the following morning to decide the charge against John Albert Oakley – for an alleged assault on his neighbour – the trial was thrown out.

But after a fresh two-day trial and deliberations by the new jury, Mr Oakley was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to William Sorrell on October 16, 2017.

John Albert Oakley outside Southport Courthouse during the trial.

“It turned my life upside down for a couple of years but I’m glad they actually saw reason and sense,” an emotional Mr Oakley said outside court.

“I didn’t mean to hurt the guy. I was just defending myself.”

The two men – who were the only ones present at the time of the incident – had vastly different accounts.

Mr Sorrell, who has a brain injury, alleged Mr Oakley punched him after the pair were smoking “bongs” at a Carrara caravan park.

He said that he was sitting at the time and told Mr Oakley to “shut up, rip your f---king cone” after he began “whingeing” at him.

Mr Sorrell said he was then struck to the face.

He said that it would have been different had he been standing.

MORE NEWS

Dangerous intersection: Change could have saved woman killed on Coast

Horrific life of girl, 9, mum dressed in ‘Playboy outfit’ before rapes

Gold Coast man’s scary escape from Italy, hours before national lockdown

The trial was heard in Southport District Court. Picture: Scott Fletcher

But Mr Oakley told a different story – that he was acting in self-defence – one the jury ultimately believed.

He denied ever smoking cannabis with his neighbour.

In body-cam footage played to the court, Mr Oakley told officers Mr Sorrell came into his caravan and tried to “stand over” him for his dinner.

“I asked him to leave at least three times,” he said.

Mr Oakley said he became irate when Mr Sorrell began speaking about his daughter.

“He said something about wanting to sleep with her,” he said.

He told police he went to get up and Mr Sorrell threw a punch.

He said he ducked and then punched him back.

Defence barrister Debra Wardle said to the jury: “What would you do if someone came into your home, would not leave, was making demands, saying inflammatory things about your child, and threw a punch at you?”

Mr Oakley cried as the verdict was delivered.