Cairns crime: Joseph Serre, 75, convicted of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and given suspended sentence

A 75-year-old former navy man with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from his harrowing experience in Australia’s greatest peacetime naval disaster has been sentenced for hitting a man with his car.

A 75-YEAR-OLD man with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from his harrowing experience in Australia’s greatest peacetime naval disaster has received a suspended sentence over a serious traffic incident in Cairns District Court.

Joseph Serre was convicted of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm and leaving the scene without obtaining help.

He was also charged with common assault, but at trial the jury was unable to achieve a unanimous verdict on that offence, and the prosecution discontinued that matter.

The court on Wednesday heard Serre had followed a vehicle through a roundabout quite closely and the driver of the other vehicle pulled over and an altercation ensued where Mr Serre allegedly punched the man, who threatened him with a knife.

Mr Serre hit the man with the rear of his vehicle as he was leaving, causing a rotator cuff injury to the man’s right shoulder which required surgery.

Prosecutor Jodie Crane told the court Mr Serre had no criminal history and had phoned police when he arrived home.

She said the complainant’s ability to earn an income and support his family was affected as a result of the injury

Defence barrister Michael Dalton told the court Mr Serre had chronic PTSD, the offending was out of character and unlikely to be repeated.

Joseph Serre was aboard HMAS Melbourne when it slammed into HMAS Voyager in Australia’s greatest peacetime naval disaster.

“Things got very badly out of control on that day,” Mr Dalton said.

The event occurred three years ago.

The court heard of Mr Serre’s harrowing past.

He migrated with his family after two older siblings died in the bombing of a school in WWII.

Mr Serre served with navy and was aboard HMAS Melbourne when it collided with Voyager in 1964.

The aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and the destroyer HMAS Voyager collided on February 10, 1964, in Jervis Bay.

The Voyager was cut in two and 82 were killed, with some trapped in the heavy bow section, which sank after 10 minutes.

HMAS Voyager and HMAS Melbourne before the fatal 1964 collision.

Mr Serre was only 16 years old at the time.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Dean Morzone said, “what pushed you over the edge was in 1969 when you were serving your country and HMAS Melbourne collided with USS Evans in the South China Sea, and 76 people lost their lives, you are haunted by that event particularly, with nightmares hearing the screams of those who lost their lives”.

In June 1969, the US destroyer Evans sailed under the bow of HMAS Melbourne, where it was cut in two and 74 were killed.

“You’re left with significant and long lasting problems – PTSD, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and life ageing matters,” Judge Morzone said.

“You have had a lifetime of trying but you must still strive to cope well, to do your best, (and) I have sent a message this is not the way to treat others when in control of a car.”

Mr Serre was disqualified from driving for 12 months, ordered to pay the complainant $2000 compensation and received a wholly suspended two and a half year sentence.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Joseph Serre, 75, convicted of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and given suspended sentence