Brothers and friend jailed over bashing of men outside the MCG
The sons of a high-profile Melbourne barrister and their friend have been jailed for an attack on two men outside the MCG. Shocking footage of the bashing shows the victims being punched as they lay helpless on the ground.
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The sons of a Melbourne barrister have been jailed over the brutal bashing of two AFL fans near the MCG despite their pleas to be free on a community-based order.
And when brothers Dominic and Sam Walker, the sons of Tim Walker, QC, are released from their 12-month and 6-month sentences respectively, they are banned from attending licensed venues for a year.
Their mate, Benjamin Fitt, was jailed for four months and will face the same ban from licensed venues upon his release.
Family and friends in the packed courtroom gasped as Magistrate Duncan Reynolds jailed the three men, after their lawyers had requested they undergo rehabilitation in the community.
All three will be placed on a Community Corrections Order for two years after they’re released, undergoing drug and alcohol treatment and mental health assessment.
Dominic Walker, 28, his younger brother Sam, 25, and Fitt, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally causing injury.
Shocking footage captured the moment the trio mobbed David Raeside, 61, and Len Tricarico, 45, near the Pullman Hotel on Wellington Parade just after midnight on September 7, following the Richmond-Hawthorn qualifying final.
Mr Raeside was knocked to the ground and as he lay unconscious in the gutter, he copped blow after blow to the head by one of his attackers.
Friends of the three men packed the court, with some gasping as they heard the trio would be jailed.
Mr Reynolds said he was not convinced by any of the thug’s top lawyers that a CCO was sufficient punishment for their crime.
“The plea to the charges were concessions that it was gross and unjustifiable conduct,” Mr Reynolds said.
“The impact on the victims cannot be disregarded.”
Both victims were taken to hospital.
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As the trio were led off into custody, family members embraced and wiped away tears.
Tim Walker appeared shocked as he consoled his wife.
Outside court, neither one would comment.
Sam Walker immediately lodged an appeal of his sentence with the County Court, where a hearing will take place on February 3.
Just a little over an hour after Mr Duncan jailed him for six months, the younger Walker brother fronted the magistrate again — this time behind the glass of the dock — to successfully apply for bail, pending his appeal.
The prosecution did not oppose bail.
His older brother Dominic has not lodged an appeal at this stage.
Fitt’s lawyer Peter Morrissey SC told Mr Duncan that his client would not be appealing.