Cain Bird pleads guilty to one-punch attack at Burleigh Heads

A Gold Coast man was hospitalised with a fractured jaw and unable to eat solid food for weeks after a shocking assault. Now his assailant has faced court.

A man who punched another man in the face – knocking him unconscious and fracturing his jaw – in a seemingly unprovoked attack at Burleigh Heads has walked away from court.

Cain Zilus Bird, 20, approached his victim outside Mr Kebab – an eatery located near popular restaurant and bar Justin Lane – in the early hours of September 25 last year.

Southport District Court was told the pair spoke briefly before Bird suddenly swung at the other man, who was a stranger to him.

Prosecutor Josie Salzman said the victim was immediately knocked unconscious, with Bird fleeing and leaving onlookers to call an ambulance.

CCTV footage from moments before Cain Zilus Bird (right) punched another man in the face in a seemingly unprovoked attack at Burleigh Heads. Picture: Queensland Police Service

Ms Salzman said the other man suffered a fractured jaw requiring surgery and other facial injuries, spending five days in hospital after the assault.

She told the court he was still needing dental work to repair damage to numerous teeth and estimated the cost to be $10,700.

“He was unable to eat solid food for four to six weeks, he had to stop playing sport, and he’s had to wear a mouthguard since the offence,” Ms Salzman said.

“There was some indication there would be long-term suffering and permanent injury had he not been treated for these injuries.”

The court was told Bird handed himself in to police and had no criminal history at the time of the brutal one-punch attack.

Cain Zilus Bird leaving the Southport courthouse. Picture: Jessica Paul

Defence barrister Nick McGhee said his client experienced a “traumatic and extremely prejudicial” childhood that saw him turn to drugs as a means of self-medicating.

He told the court Bird and his victim had both been drinking that night and could not recall what triggered the assault.

“Violence is something entirely out of character for my client,” Mr McGhee said.

“Noting the seriousness of the situation he finds himself in, being a young 20-year-old man, the prospect of prison is both scary and particularly daunting to him.”

Picture: Queensland Police Service

Mr McGhee said Bird had moved away from the area and was no longer consuming drugs or alcohol, and had started taking steps to address his mental health concerns.

Judge Rowan Jackson said he hoped Bird was truly remorseful for his “deplorable” violence, and needed to take seriously the advice to keep his mental health issues in check.

“If you think you’ve got away with that because you’re not going to jail today, you would be very foolish,” Judge Jackson said.

“You are being given a chance to show people you are genuine in your remorse and your steps to rehabilitate yourself. Don’t muck it up.”

Bird pleaded guilty to one count of grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced to two years’ jail with immediate parole release. Bird was also ordered to pay $2500 in compensation to his victim within 12 months.

Originally published as Cain Bird pleads guilty to one-punch attack at Burleigh Heads