Brenn Gravolin attacks man after racists remarks about wife outside Surfers Paradise club
A commercial sailor left a man with a gash on his head and broken ankle after a fight sparked by racist comments about his wife during a night out in Surfers Paradise. SEE THE VIDEO >>>
Police & Courts
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A COMMERCIAL sailor left a man with a gash on his head and broken ankle after a fight sparked by racist comments about his wife.
Brenn Gravolin grabbed, punched and kicked the man who allegedly made racist and derogatory comments about Gravolin’s Indigenous wife as they left the Avenue, Surfers Paradise in the early hours of April 26 this year.
The man had allegedly made a number of racist remarks including that Gravolin’s wife did not belong in the club and demanding she leave.
Gravolin pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
The court was told the fight sparked as Gravolin, 33, and the victim left The Avenue with their respective groups.
Gravolin grabbed the man, punched him in the shoulder area and kicked him as well.
The man fell and was left with a gash on his head.
His ankle was swollen and an x-ray taken a day later showed it was broken.
Defence lawyer Chris Hannay, of Hannay Lawyers, said the man had been making racist remarks and they continued as the two groups left.
“As a result of that derogatory remark and he has tried to protect the dignity of his wife and gone a little bit too far. He is apologetic for that,” he said.
Mr Hannay said Gravolin worked in the merchant navy but had been unable to return to work in Perth due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He said since the incident Gravolin and his wife had separated.
Magistrate Gary Finger fined Gravolin $1000 and ordered he pay $800 in compensation.
He also ordered Gravolin perform 40 hours community service. No conviction was recorded.
“The community and the courts won’t tolerate these sorts of actions by anyone in Surfers Paradise,” he said.
“You wouldn’t want it to happen to you and you shouldn’t do it.”
Magistrate Finger said he accepted that Gravolin had taken steps towards rehabilitation for alcohol problems.
Gravolin was also banned from the Surfers Paradise Safe Night Precinct at night until September 9 next year.
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