Jai Nicholas Davis sentenced in Southport District Court after 2020 stabbing
A passing skateboarder was stabbed during a vicious fight on Tallebudgera Creek Bridge sparked by comments about fishing.
Police & Courts
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A YOUNG father who suffers from a “serious” workplace injury has avoided actual custody after stabbing a man in a fight that was sparked over fishing.
Jai Nicholas Davis, a recovering drug addict who assists as a “buddy” in the Australian Anti-Ice Campaign, appeared in Southport District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to unlawful wounding.
The court was told Davis, 26, was fishing on Tallebudgera Creek Bridge on January 6, 2020 when a passing 43-year-old skateboarder – who had consumed about 14 beers – made a comment about fishing.
“The complainant … approached you crossing the bridge and yelled out words to the effect of: ‘Fisheries, Fisheries, where’s your fishing license for the ticket, and stated he was with (the department of) fisheries,” Judge Rowan Jackson said.
The pair became involved in a heated argument before Davis threw the first punch.
“The complainant grabbed your (fishing) rods, hit you across the back of the neck and shoulder area with one of them, before throwing the rest in the water.
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“The fight continued and the two of you wrestled to the ground.
“You got on top of the complainant. The complainant held you by the collar.
“It was in the course of the physical fighting that you grabbed your fishing knife and stabbed the complainant to the neck twice,” Judge Jackson said.
Davis and other bystanders called triple-0.
The victim suffered two stab wounds to the neck and was “lucky” to escape serious injury.
Davis told police he was acting in self defence. The crown maintained that he used excessive force in attempting to defend himself.
On Monday he was jailed for two years and six months but given immediate parole.
The court was told Davis, a father-of-two, suffered a “serious” workplace injury in May 2019 which requires ongoing medical treatment.
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The court heard his time in custody would be “significantly harder” due to his injuries.
Davis’ defence barrister Chris Minnery said his client bitterly regretted the incident.
Mr Minnery told the court his client “panicked” as he had limited mobility and believed he was in a position that he would have been choked.
He was supported by his family in the courtroom, and required a walking stick to move.
The court was told Davis had a criminal history of dishonesty and property offences plus serious assaults on police.
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