Karlla Garling, Joseph Hazelbane: Brutal brawl moments before Six Tanks ramming

Bad blood between families stoked a “senseless” group bashing on Mitchell St moments before a popular nightclub was rammed. SEE THE SHOCKING FOOTAGE HERE.

BAD blood stoked a “senseless” and “uncivilised” group bashing on Mitchell St moments before a popular nightclub was rammed.

Karlla Maree Garling, 31, broke down in tears at the conclusion of the hearing where she and co-accused Joseph Travis Hazelbane, 26, were sentenced for their role in a 3am brawl with Dale Talbot on December 6, 2020.

The court heard Garling and Hazelbane chased down and attacked the 38-year-old after Mr Talbot challenged the younger man to a fight outside Six Tanks Brewery.

In his victim impact statement Mr Talbot said the “consensual fight” was only between himself and Hazelbane, but he was set upon by a group.

Mr Talbot was chased down Mitchell St and tripped by Garling at the Peel St intersection.

Judge Therese Austin said the group surrounded their victim, with Hazelbane pummelling the 38-year-old, who curled into the foetal position.

CCTV captured the younger man stomping on Mr Talbot’s head and unleashing punches and kicks to his body.

After several attempts by bystanders to drag Hazelbane away, the attack relented, allowing Mr Talbot to climb into his black Toyota LandCruiser.

As he drove past the group Hazelbane threw a plastic chair at the car and Mr Talbot responded by driving into the Six Tanks Brewery.

Hazelbane was sent flying backwards by the impact and was left with deep tissue injuries to his back and spine, cuts to his legs, glass fragments in his head and bruising.

“But he’s not complaining about the injuries he suffered being run over,” barrister Peter Maley said.

In the wake of the crash, Mr Talbot was punched in the face 27 times.

Dale Talbot was charged for with ramming his car into Six Tanks. Picture: Facebook

Ms Austin reminded the court on several instances she was not there to judge or justify Talbot’s actions, for which he was serving four years in prison for offences including recklessly endangering life, dangerous driving and criminal damage.

“If there is bad blood or there’s difficulties between these two family groups, that is something I would hope they can sort out,” she said.

“People cannot go around and take the law into their own hands by … using violent conduct to sort out whatever trouble is going on.

“If that was to happen we would have chaos, anarchy and violence on the streets of Darwin.”

On Friday the pair were supported by friends and family, with tension breaking out in the gallery between them and Talbot’s supporters.

Garling pleaded guilty to engaging in violent conduct and common assault and was given a five-month suspended sentence.

Hazelbane was sentenced to three months’ jail, followed by an 11-month suspended sentence for aggravated assault.

He was also sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond for fighting in a public place on November 28, 2020 in an unrelated punch up.

Outside the court Talbot’s partner Tamara Cole said: “I think they all should have had some time in jail, but what can you do?”

Dale Talbot’s partner Tamara Cole with his daughter Erika Talbot, 17, outside Darwin Local Court after his attackers Karlla Maree Garling and Joseph Travis Hazelbane were sentenced on Friday March 4.