James Winston Mau’u pleads guilty to bludgeoning stranger with gym weight after imagined insult

An alleged member of the Mongols used a 5kg weight plate to beat a stranger in an act of “gratuitous violence” at an up-market gym. See the footage.

AN alleged Mongols bikie gang member used a 5kg weight plate to bludgeon a stranger because he mistakenly thought the fellow gym goer had called him a “black dog”.

James Winston Mau’u repeatedly hit Jake Karlovsky in the head, stomach and legs while they were both at the World Gym Coomera about 8.30pm on February 3 last year.

Mr Karlovsky did not make the slur that Mau’u thought he had heard.

The 24-year-old Mau’u admitted he was mistaken when he pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to grievous bodily harm.

Crown prosecutor Christopher Cook said Mau’u and Mr Karlovsky, who were unknown to each other, were both working out in the gym when without warning Mau’u picked up the 5kg weight plate.

He used that to repeatedly beat Mr Karlovsky who had been using his mobile phone.

Mau’u yelled and swore while belting the 20-year-old.

It was only stopped when bystanders tried to intervene.

During the attack Mr Karlovsky kept saying: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I don’t know you.”

Mau’u left with his friend Dallas Morgan. Mr Morgan was previously charged over the beating but those charges have been dropped.

Mr Cook said: “It’s an example of a gratuitous violence in a public place while armed on an unsuspecting victim.

“Indeed it was a cowardly attack.”

As a result of the brutal attack Mr Karlovsky needed surgery on his jaw, was in hospital for two days and on soft foods for six weeks.

Mr Cook said it was accepted that Mau’u thought he heard the comment “black dog” but that Mr Karlovsky never said that.

Judge Geraldine Dann sentenced Mau’u to four-and-a-half years’ prison with parole eligibility on February 3, 2023.

“No matter what you thought you heard it was an utter over-reaction to a stranger at 8.30 in the evening,” she said.

Judge Dann described the attack as “brazen”.

Defence solicitor Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said Mau’u accepted he was of the “mistaken belief” the slur had been said.

“He exploded in anger and totally irrational behaviour,” he said.

Mr Gatenby said Mau’u was the target of racism and bullying focused on his skin colour growing up as a child.

He said Mau’u was also subjected to domestic violence and had not spoken to his father since he was 15.

Mau’u, a former scaffolder, is also in custody on unrelated charges.

Originally published as James Winston Mau’u pleads guilty to bludgeoning stranger with gym weight after imagined insult