Timothy Clinton Edwards jailed for life-threatening pole attack in Bundaberg

A young man was left with catastrophic brain injuries after his older neighbour repeatedly swung a metal pole into his head with such force he immediately collapsed and began convulsing. Warning: Distressing content

Christian Mackay in a hospital bed after the brutal assault, fighting to recover from the life-altering injuries inflicted on him.

A young dad was so brutally bashed with a pole by an angry neighbour that he was left comatose for weeks and with a permanent brain injury.

Timothy Clinton Edwards, 34, was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court for the vicious assault on Christian Mackay, 20, with a metal pole after a dispute over music broke out.

Edwards pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while armed, burglary in the night while armed, and committing a malicious act with intent, along with four summary offences, all involving violence.

The court heard Mr Mackay was left with catastrophic injuries after being struck multiple times.
Judge Brad Farr described the incident as “extraordinarily serious,” noting that Edwards’ behaviour posed a significant danger to the community.

The events unfolded on the evening of April 14, 2020, when Edwards, armed with the pole, approached Mr Mackay and another 19-year-old occupant living next door.
Though there was no loud music at the time, tensions between Edwards and the victim had been building for weeks, sparked by complaints over noise.

Christian Mackay in a coma in ICU where he remained for weeks after the attack from his neighbour.

Court documents reveal that “without warning”, Edwards struck with the metal pole outside the unit, hitting Mr Mackay in the ribs, causing bruising and grazing.

Mr Mackay retreated, but Edwards followed him into the house where Mr Mackay, unaware of the full extent of Edwards’ intent, tried to de-escalate the situation, pleading, “Calm down, calm down”.

Mr Mackay’s attempts to defuse the confrontation were futile.

Edwards, wielding the pole like a baseball bat, struck Mr Mackay on the left side of his head with such force that he immediately collapsed.

Christian Mackay immediately collapsed after being repeatedly struck on the head with a metal pole by a neighbour angry about loud music.

Mr Mackay’s body began convulsing on the floor.

Edwards then paused, walked calmly over to where Mr Mackay lay on the ground, and proceeded to strike him three more times to the head.

Edwards then left, remarking, “He could be dead”.

Police were called, both by a witness at the scene and by Edwards himself, who calmly informed the emergency operator that he had hit someone with a pole.

When officers arrived, they found Edwards sitting outside his unit.

“He is lying on the floor and he is in a bad way,” he told them.

“He is probably dead. You had better hurry.”

Inside the unit, Mr Mackay was found lying in a pool of his own blood, with brain and skull matter on the floor.

His injuries were catastrophic, described by medical professionals as a major haemorrhage, an open comminuted skull fracture reduced to “nine minute particles or fragments,” and external brain herniation, a life-threatening condition where brain tissue and fluids shift from their normal position.

He also suffered a massive intracranial haemorrhage and a suspected aspiration pneumonitis, an acute lung injury caused by inhaling regurgitated gastric contents.

Christian Mackay in intensive care after the attack.

Mr Mackay was rushed to Bundaberg Base Hospital and later transferred to Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital for emergency neurosurgery, where part of his skull had to be removed to relieve brain swelling.
His brain was so swollen that part of the tissue had herniated and had to be amputated.

He spent months in intensive care and faced further surgeries.

After being discharged, he was transferred to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

COULD NOT REMEMBER HE HAD A DAUGHTER

The long-term consequences of the attack have been devastating for Mr Mackay, the court documents reveal.
He suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting in permanent, severe neurological deficits.
He remains paralysed on the right side of his body, struggles with basic communication, and has lost the ability to read, write and or work.

His cognitive functions are impaired to the extent that, for months, he was unable to remember he had a daughter.
His social life has all but ended, and he requires full-time care, largely provided by his grandmother who has since become his full-time caregiver, dealing with stress-related illnesses as a result.

In sentencing, Judge Farr outlined that Edwards had a minor criminal history, though he had two prior convictions for offences of violence, and at the time of the attack, he was on bail for a separate violent offence committed 11 days earlier.

This earlier offence involved Edwards grabbing a hotel attendant by the hair and assaulting him, causing bruising and a fracture to the man’s knee.

Edwards also committed violent acts while in custody, including spitting at a corrective services officer and striking another with a mop handle.

Christian’s life was irrevocably changed after a brutal assault left him with severe brain injuries, as he continues to navigate the challenges of recovery and rehabilitation following the attack.

Judge Farr emphasised that such offences were serious, particularly when directed at those performing their lawful duties.

The court heard psychiatric evidence that Edwards suffered from chronic paranoid schizophrenia, though both psychiatrists who assessed him concluded that, despite his mental illness, Edwards was aware of his actions at the time of the attack.
Judge Farr noted that while Edwards’ mental health issues were a mitigating factor, the severity of the crime called for a lengthy prison sentence to protect the community.

Judge Farr ultimately described Edwards as “a danger to the community” and said that general deterrence, community protection, and punishment were all paramount in determining the appropriate sentence.

Edwards was sentenced to 11 years’ jail. No date was set for parole.

Originally published as Timothy Clinton Edwards jailed for life-threatening pole attack in Bundaberg