Cesar Augusto Rodriguez pleads guilty of punching neighbour outside Runaway Bay Shopping Centre

An ongoing battle between two men has landed up in court after a dad punched his neighbour – a 68-year-old man – outside a busy shopping centre.

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A Gold Coast dad punched his neighbour outside a shopping centre after an ongoing dispute between the pair.

Cesar Augusto Rodriguez, 58, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrate Court on Tuesday to serious assault to a person over 60.

A court was told the assault occurred when Rodriguez saw his next-door neighbour sitting on a seat outside the Runaway Bay Shopping Centre on September 9, 2020.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Erin Livingstone said Rodriguez told the 68-year-old man to stand up before he assaulted him, punching him in the mouth and then in the face.

The punches left the victim with a broken tooth, a small cut to his nose and bruise on his face.

CCTV footage showed the victim stood up with his hands by his side when he was first hit by Rodriguez.

The victim then flicked blood on Rodriguez before he was hit again, a court was told.

Defence lawyer Rodney Keyte, of TWC Lawyers, said Rodriguez felt threatened by the 68-year-old man when he stood up off his seat.

Both parties agreed the first punch was not unlawful but the second punch was not out of self defence.

Mr Keyte said Rodriguez and the victim had an extensive history with multiple neighbour disputes between each other over a two and a half year period.

The victim has moved properties since the incident.

Magistrate Kerry Magee said the attack was “out of character” for Rodriguez and fined him $750 with no conviction recorded.

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