Drunk and emotional ‘good Samaritan’ bashed a stranger in a one-punch Rye RSL attack
A Rye RSL patron had been drinking heavily at the club when he went outside because he thought a woman was in trouble. The situation calmed down until a stranger came for a chat.
South East
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An “incredibly drunk” Rye RSL patron who believed he was being a good Samaritan one-punched a stranger so hard the man fell backwards and cracked his head on the concrete ground.
Benjamin Reinecker, 26, then just walked away, leaving RSL staff to take the injured man to hospital.
The victim received bruising, swelling and soreness to his face and a laceration to the back of his head, but fortunately did not suffer any serious or permanent injury.
Reinecker pleaded guilty to one charge of recklessly causing injury at Dromana Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard on July 13 this year he had been drinking heavily with a pal at the Rye RSL and was emotional because of his father’s recent illness diagnosis and the unexpected death of a mate.
About 10.20pm an argument broke out between a man and woman and security took the pair outside.
Reinecker followed them and intervened because he believed the woman was being harassed, but that was not the case and the couple settled down.
Meanwhile another man, a complete stranger to Reinecker, came outside and had a chat with him. Reinecker suddenly lashed out, striking the victim to the face, and he fell and hit his head.
Reinecker, a regular at the RSL, was identified by staff and he was interviewed by police the next day.
He told officers he had been “incredibly drunk”, was extremely remorseful and had reacted due to a “build-up of adrenaline”.
He said he left the scene because he was shocked by his own actions.
In court his defence lawyer said the golf course groundsman had initially gone outside to be a “good Samaritan” because he feared the woman may have been in trouble.
The lawyer said after that situation calmed down Reinecker believed the stranger was being sarcastic towards the woman, who he also did not know.
She said he then “simply had a lapse in control” and reacted when his emotions, which had peaked due to a turbulent and stressful period in his life “came to a head”.
She added that he was remorseful from the outset, was genuinely a nonviolent man, this act was out of character, and he was now receiving counselling and mental health treatment.
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Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said it was extremely lucky that no serious injuries eventuated, or Reinecker would be facing a County Court judge and lengthy term of imprisonment.
“It was a single punch, not a persistent beating,” Mr Lethbridge said.
“I accept it was aberrant behaviour and you are someone who does not go out looking for trouble.
“You had drunk too much, you had a degree of unhappiness and frustration; (but) you are expected to be in control of your anger.”
Reinecker was convicted and placed on a three-year good behaviour bond, ordered to pay $2400 to the court fund and continue his medical treatment.