Eugene Cecil Watson granted bail over Park Avenue Hotel armed robbery

An innocent man was “simply trying to go to the bathroom” when he was allegedly assaulted and robbed. Now, the accused attacker is walking free.

A man’s wallet was allegedly stolen as he was assaulted in the toilet at a Rockhampton pub.

A man with an eight-page criminal record has been granted bail after being charged with armed robbery with personal violence.

Eugene Cecil Watson, 31, made an application for bail in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 21 after he was charged over the alleged armed robbery at the Park Avenue Hotel on June 13, along with two dishonest use charges.

Police prosecutor Kathryn Walker said Mr Watson was accused of following the victim into the toilets at the pub and assaulting him before taking off with his wallet.

She said he then allegedly used the victim’s bank cards to purchase alcohol at two different venues in Berserker that same day.

Ms Walker said the alleged robbery victim, who did not know Mr Watson, sustained a broken orbital bone (eye socket) which requires surgery.

She said the attack was “unprovoked” and the victim was “simply trying to go to the bathroom”.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said Mr Watson had a limited history of breaching bails with the last in 2019 and he had never previously been in the District Court, which is where the armed robbery charge needed to be finalised.

Mr Lammersdorf proposed his client be bailed to live in Woorabinda and not go to Rockhampton.

Magistrate Peter Kuskie granted Watson bail, ordered briefs of evidence for the three charges and adjourned them to be next mentioned in court on September 24.

No pleas have been entered.

Originally published as Eugene Cecil Watson granted bail over Park Avenue Hotel armed robbery