‘Didn’t get away with anything’: AFL star’s basher blasted in court
A man who viciously assaulted retired AFL star Jack Ziebell has been warned by a magistrate over his “vile, repugnant” conduct as he learnt his fate.
Police & Courts
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A magistrate has slammed a young man who bashed retired AFL star Jack Ziebell warning him he was lucky not to be jailed for his “vile, repugnant” conduct.
Ibrahim Behluli, 21, was on Thursday handed a $25,000 fine with conviction over the vicious assault that left the former Kangaroos’ captain with a broken nose outside The Osborne Bar in South Yarra in August last year.
Behluli, who pleaded guilty to affray and intentionally causing injury, was asked to stand as magistrate David Starvaggi warned him he would be jailed if he reoffended.
“Your conduct was nothing short of reprehensible, you acted in a vile, repugnant and utterly stupid manner. If you engage in this sort of conduct again in the future, short of a miracle, you will be jailed for a substantially long time,” he told Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
“And make no mistakes, be under no misapprehension, you didn’t get away with anything because that fine is significant for a young man of your age.
“You actions are to be denounced in the highest possible nature.”
Prosecutors pushed for a prison term but Behluli’s lawyer Anthony Malkoun pointed out his client’s young age, his plea of guilty and that he handed himself into police.
“There is a lot of utility and benefit to the way it’s been dealt with,” he said.
“The plea allowed them (victims) to get on with their lives rather than waiting around for the (court) process.”
The court was told Ziebell and his wife submitted victim impact statements but did not want them to be read out in open court.
The footballer was celebrating with teammates and staff hours after playing his final game when he was set upon by Behluli in the early hours of August 20.
Ziebell left the bar to check on a friend after he was told teammates had been involved in a fight with Behluli’s group when he was pushed into a wall and punched in the face.
Ziebell, who was hospitalised with a broken nose and cuts to his face, had his arms by his side and was not prepared for the attack.
CCTV footage of the incident showed Behluli then kicking Ziebell, who played 280 games for North Melbourne, as he lay on the ground before leaving with his mates.
Last week the court was told the bashing was sparked by an earlier scuffle involving teammates Charlie Comben and Curtis Taylor.
Security footage inside the bar showed an argument between Comben and Behluli and his friends Masihullah Rawani, 27, and Abdul Karim, 29.
Karim was seen placing his arms around the head of Comben’s friend before he was pushed on to a bench seat.
Comben fell on to the seat during the scuffle before Behluli was seen jumping on to the bench and striking him in the back of the head six times.
Another player, Curtis Taylor, pulled him off his teammate before Behluli’s group were kicked out by security about 12.52am.
Another patron was also struck and kicked in the groin during the affray.
Ziebell, who was not involved in the confrontation, then left the bar a short time later where he was set upon by Behluli.
Rawani was handed an $1800 fine with conviction for behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place over the initial altercation, while Karim also admitted involvement but had his charges dismissed.
Wearing a mask, sunglasses and black puffer jacket with the hood up, Behluli refused to comment as he left court.
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