Trevor Gillmeister avoids conviction for assaulting police officer
Trevor Gillmeister is said to be “extremely embarrassed” and remorseful after a boozy night out ended in a police assault charge, as Channel 7 reportedly reviews his contract.
Queensland rugby league great Trevor Gillmeister has been handed a good behaviour bond after assaulting a police officer near a Brisbane pub.
Gillmeister, a Broncos and Queensland origin team legend known as the Axe, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, obstructing a police officer and committing a public nuisance near the Stock Exchange Hotel on November 14.
The assault and obstruction charges had been accompanied by a circumstance of aggravation, namely he was allegedly in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance at the time.
However the circumstance of aggravation was dropped from the two charges after a submission from his lawyer Nick Crawford citing Gillmeister’s community service.
In a submission emailed to the court last month Mr Crawford said his client, who had no criminal history, had undergone various surgery for injuries sustained over his sporting career including numerous shoulder operations.
“He instructs this is the central reason he did not ‘get on the ground’ when he was being arrested,” Mr Crawford said.
“We are also instructed that $500 in compensation will be made available to the arresting officer.
“Our office is respectfully seeking the removal of the COA - in public place adversely affected - for charges two and three due to the significant community work undertaken over the past three decades, his age and the fact he has no criminal history.”
That volunteer work included talks and presentations to PCYC over the past 20 years, helping raise $150,000 for asbestos awareness, a Kokoda Track walk, and fundraisers for fellow footy players “fallen on hard times”.
Gillmeister, 61, of Gordon Park, was scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow but the matter was moved forward to allow for travel.
The court heard Gillmeister placed the manager of the Stock Exchange Hotel in a chokehold when the employee attempted to stop him from re-entering the venue after he’d been thrown out.
The police prosecutor said Gillmeister was removed from the hotel just before midnight due to his behaviour.
“He’s attempted to re enter the hotel. He’s been stopped by the manager of the hotel.
“They’ve then had a something of an altercation. There’s been some shoving, and managers been placed in a choke hold,” he said.
“The defendant’s been taken outside by several bystanders, but police have subsequently taken up with the defendant. Those are the matters of the charge for public nuisance.”
The prosecutor stressed that no assault complaint had been made by the manager.
He said when the officers tried to speak to Gillmeister grabbed one by the wrist and then swore at the cop after being warned not to touch them.
“He’s pushed the police officer hard enough that the officer’s had to take several steps back,” the prosecutor said.
The court heard Gillmeister failed to comply with the arrest which constituted the obstruct charge.
“He’s been resisting arrest and ignoring police instructions before eventually being restrained and taken to the watchhouse,” the prosecutor said.
“These aren’t trivial matters, your honour, but it doesn’t appear that anyone’s been injured.”
Magistrate Anne Thacker asked: “what’s got into him”?
“(I) want to know why he was behaving like this.”
Mr Crawford said his client was intoxicated.
“There was a disturbance, so to speak, he was asked to leave. He didn’t think he’d done anything wrong,” he said.
Mr Crawford said Gillmeister had had a “huge number” of surgeries over the years which is why he refused to get on the ground when requested by police who were patrolling the location.
“There was a large number of other people around him, friends and associates, who were preventing the police from talking to him as well.
“So the whole situation escalated. There was no injury sustained to any person at all, including the police. It was a push,” he said.
“The only injuries sustained were the injuries that my client sustained, and this is on the mug shot ... both his eyes are swollen and he’s got a cut above his left eyebrow after being thrown on the ground.
“He makes no complaint about the police behavior, but the only person who was injured in the incident was Mr Gillmeister.
“It’s just a situation that drastically got out of control very quickly.”
Ms Thacker said it was surprising to see a 61 year old with no criminal history before the court.
“He’s been thinking about this matter ever since it happened. His wife has spoken to him on many occasions about what happened on that particular night,” Mr Crawford said.
Ms Thacker asked whether there was a problem that needed addressing.
“Why isn’t his wife here ? Is she sick of him? Are you just doing too much drinking or what?” she said.
Mr Crawford said he’d told the family not to attend highlighting the significant media attention.
“That’s certainly an explanation I want to hear,” Ms Thacker said.
Mr Crawford tendered five references on Gillmeister’s behalf with several saying “it’s completely and totally out of character”.
He said Channel 7, where Gillmeister works as a rugby league expert, would be reviewing his contract.
“He’s certainly extremely embarrassed by his behavior and very remorse for his conduct. This is the first mention, it’s a very early plea of guilty,” he said.
“The whole thing really escalated from the public nuisance side of things because of the injuries that he has suffered through his career and being told he has to get on the ground - he’s got very limited movement with shoulders and - and obviously him being intoxicated as well.
“And he certainly accepts he was behaving in a belligerent manner to the police as well.
“He has great respect for the police and this is a one off situation and I’m sure your honour will never see him in court again.”
Ms Thacker said it was surprising to see him with “his community centered background” in court.
“I am left with your early plea of guilty at the very first available opportunity. No criminal history, a full and complete service to the community over many years,” she said.
“The message that might be sent to the community in terms of deterrence is not necessary in your case.”
She said she believed he would not repeat the behaviour again.
“Are you able to make that promise?” she asked.
“Yes without a doubt,” the league legend responded.
“You lost it for some reason on this particular night, don’t do it again,” she said.
She said there was no need for the officer to receive restitution.
Ms Thacker sentenced Gillmeister to a three-month $1500 good behaviour bond.
“I’m pretty happy with that,” Gillmeister said of his sentence outside court.
“Don’t put yourself in positions that can jeopardise yourself and that’s what I did.
“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I admit that.
“Next time hopefully I’ll know better.”
Ms Thacker did not record convictions in handing down her sentence at the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Originally published as Trevor Gillmeister avoids conviction for assaulting police officer
