Liam Rawhiti Bliss, convicted of manslaughter, smashed windscreen in brutal road rage
A man once convicted for manslaughter has escaped a jail term for a second time after punching a stranger five times during a road rage attack. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED >>>
Police & Courts
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A MAN once convicted for manslaughter has escaped a jail term for a second time after punching a stranger five times during a road rage attack.
A drunk Liam Rawhiti Bliss put his elbow through a windscreen and bashed the driver near Circle on Cavil in Surfers Paradise on January 29.
Bliss was on a suspended sentence for an unrelated manslaughter conviction at the time.
The driver had tooted his horn at Bliss as he tried to walk across the road on a green traffic light about 9.30pm. The driver started to move forward and accidentally ran over Bliss’ foot.
It was then Bliss struck.
After the beating, Bliss told the victim: “What is done is done.”
Witnesses alerted nearby police. A woman filmed the attack.
Bliss pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday to common assault and wilful damage.
The court was told the 30-year-old was “embarrassed” by the road rage attack.
In 2018, Bliss was sentenced to five years’ prison, wholly suspended, after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of pool builder Greg Dufty.
A group of others were given jail time, including Lionel Patea who pleaded guilty to murder.
The court was told at the time he drove the car that included Lionel and Nathan Patea to the hinterland where Mr Dufty was bashed in 2015, but claims he did not know what happened to him.
Bliss was friends with Lionel Patea and told police that he was in the car while Mr Dufty was being beaten.
On Thursday, the court was told Bliss had been living a low profile working and starting a family until the road rage attack.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Erin Livingston said: “Witnesses stated the victim had done nothing wrong and (Bliss) was extremely intoxicated.”
“The defendant was unable to provide a version due to high intoxication level.”
Defence barrister Alistair McDougall, instructed by TWC Lawyers, said: “He is enormously embarrassed and remorseful.”
Mr McDougall said Bliss was at his sister’s birthday and had become extremely intoxicated.
He said after the incident Bliss started attending counselling to help deal with two deaths in the family.
The court was told Bliss works full time and had recently purchased a home with his partner.
Magistrate Kerry Magee sentenced him to nine months’ probation.
“In 2018 he was placed on a suspended sentence for manslaughter and this offending breaches that sentence,” she said.
“He ought to well have known the adverse consequences (of the attack) in light of his history.”
Magistrate Magee committed Bliss to the Supreme Court in Brisbane were the breach of the suspended manslaughter sentence will be considered.
Bliss was released on bail.
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