Royal Marine Luis Estuardo McQuade assaults police in drunken Mitchell Street ‘moment of madness’

The court heard the 26-year-old had a ‘brain fade’ after being ejected from the popular night spot and launched himself at police before copping a face full of pepper spray for his trouble.

Troops from the British Royal Marines recently left the Top End after the completion of Exercise Predators Run for 2024.

A drunken British Royal Marine, who copped a face full of pepper spray after launching himself at a police officer who was arresting his colleague following a night out at Monsoons, has avoided a conviction.

Luis Estuardo McQuade pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday to assaulting, resisting and hindering police after the bibulous “moment of madness” in the early hours of August 5.

Prosecutor Brittany Stone told the court McQuade was celebrating the end of his deployment with colleagues at Monsoons when he became intoxicated and was removed by security “as a result of his behaviour”.

After an NT Police senior constable arrested one of his friends, Ms Stone said the 26-year-old ran straight at the officer, put both his arms around his shoulders and neck and tried to pull him back.

Two other officers then grabbed McQuade to stop him assaulting the senior constable, allowing his friend to escape.

“During the struggle with police (a constable) deployed pepper spray into the eyes of the defendant,” Ms Stone said.

“The defendant continued to resist and wrestle with police and was holding onto (a sergeant’s) upper legs.

“Eventually the defendant was ground-stabilised and handcuffed.”

Defence lawyer Richard Bryson said McQuade was “normally the Sober Bob for the unit” and the offending was “an aberration”.

“It was just a moment of madness, a brain fade, while seriously intoxicated,” he said.

Mr Bryson tendered references from McQuade’s superiors and a letter of apology to the police officers involved, saying his client was “well thought of” for his “extensive community service” and had “owned this from the get-go”.

The court heard the marines were ‘living it up’ on their final night in Darwin.

“There’s no weasel words, it’s not legalise, it’s heartfelt, genuine remorse on behalf of the defendant,” he said.

“His father was a career police officer, his grandfather was a career police officer and it’s his own intention that when he’s finished serving his country in the current context, to follow in those footsteps in due course.”

In fining McQuade $2000 without conviction, judge Julie Franz said she believed he was truly remorseful, “particularly because of the letter you took the time to write to the police officers”.

“It was your last night in Darwin, you were obviously living it up and matters got out of hand,” she said.

“It was out of character but you need to understand this, if you don’t already — the way you behaved on that night in question was reprehensible and I do believe you have some understanding of that because of the words you wrote in the letter.

“Police are simply just doing their job, they have a very difficult job to do, they have to go into a place like Mitchell Street late at night and deal with intoxicated patrons, they don’t deserve to be assaulted.”

Originally published as Royal Marine Luis Estuardo McQuade assaults police in drunken Mitchell Street ‘moment of madness’