Graham Campbell sentenced over ‘random, brutish violence’

A judge has described the continued bashing of a man even though he was unconscious, and then the mockery of him because he was bleeding, as “random, brutish violence”.

13/12/2011 NEWS: 13/12/2011 NEWS: Generic image of a judge hitting a gavel.

An Alice Springs man was beaten unconscious on his way home from the casino and mocked for bleeding in an unprovoked attack from a younger man, the Alice Springs Supreme Court has heard.

Graham Campbell, 20, attacked the victim late at night after asking him for a cigarette while he was walking along Barrett Drive hoping to catch a taxi in July last year.

Campbell was in a 4WD with other people when the vehicle did a sudden U-turn and drove back towards the victim according to facts read out by prosecutor Simon Lapinski.

Campbell got out of the vehicle and asked for a cigarette.

SCHOOL teacher and ex-copper pleads guilty to be more than five times over the limit

The 4WD driver called the victim over to the vehicle but Campbell said “do not go over there, they are just drunk”.

The victim turned to walk to the vehicle when Campbell repeatedly punched his head and knocked him to the floor.

Campbell shouted “give me all your sh**!” as he continued to punch him on the ground before the victim said “I have nothing, check my wallet”.

Campbell pulled the victim up to mock him and said “look at you, you are bleeding” before knocking him out.

MAN who stabbed his wife at domestic violence shelter says he can change

The victim was curled up unconscious in a foetal position but Campbell continued to deliver blows to his face before searching his pockets.

Another person in the 4WD ran out to kick the victim before a passer-by intervened and shouted at them.

Campbell asked the passer-by “do you want to fight?” however he ran away after the man took up a fighting stance to protect the victim.

Campbell bashed the victim while on a suspended sentence for aggravated robbery and property offences.

IN OTHER NEWS

Justice Judith Kelly said although Campbell is young he has 11 convictions for unlawful entry and 10 for stealing on top of a “staggering” 19 court order breaches.

“This kind of random, brutish violence is far too prevalent in our community and in Alice Springs in particular,” Justice Kelly said.

Campbell gave evidence that he tried to apologise to the victim at the casino after the incident but Justice Kelly rejected this after viewing CCTV.

“It does seem to me that you were being aggressive towards the victim and not apologetic,” Justice Kelly said.

After pleading guilty, Campbell was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail which included time restored from a previous suspended sentence.