Sebasjiano Cocker-Tuiatua, 24, from Bellbird Park, in Ipswich Court for bashing of man on Goodna Station train tracks

An Ipswich court has heard the extensive physical and mental trauma a man was put through in the wake of a “sickening” and “vicious” attack at a local train station, in which he was left to die on the tracks.

Picture of Goodna Train Station - generic

An Ipswich man has been issued a hefty jail sentence for a vicious attack at a local train station in which he repeatedly kicked, punched and stomped a man on the head before leaving him to die on the tracks.

Sebasjiano Cocker-Tuiatua, 24, faced Ipswich District Court on November 3 after pleading guilty the previous week to malicious act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and obstructing a police officer.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren had previously adjourned the matter to carefully consider his verdict.

On November 3, he recounted the “vicious, malicious, unprovoked, protracted, violent assault” that Cocker-Tuiatua had committed on October 7, 2022.

He noted Cocker-Tuiatua had been “binge drinking” and likely under the influence of MDMA or LSD on the day in question, after his sister refused to take his birthday call.

Cocker-Tuiatua had wrestled with the victim at Goodna Station in an attempt to take a scooter from his grasp.

He then unleashed what Judge Horneman-Wren called a “confronting and sickening” attack.

Cocker-Tuiatua repeatedly punched the victim before throwing him headfirst onto the tracks and stomping on his head 15 times.

The victim was treated for two jaw fractures in hospital, and underwent surgery – requiring plates and screws to fix his jaw.

Judge Horneman-Wren said: “In the victim impact statement, the complainant says the surgical scar on his cheek between his jaw and neck is a constant reminder of what happened”

“He does not like looking at himself in the mirror. He can feel the plates in his jaw.”

In Cocker-Tuiatua’s favour, Judge Horneman-Wren noted Cocker-Tuiatua had since completed a number of courses while on remand in custody and developed a relapse prevention plan.

He said Cocker-Tuiatua’s letter of remorse to the victim and his family demonstrated insight into the harm he had caused.

Judge Horneman-Wren said he had considered whether to declare Cocker-Tuiatua as a perpetrator of a serious violent offence, which would mean he would not be eligible for parole until he served 80 per cent of his sentence.

“Whilst your lack of criminal history might suggest that the protection of the public does not loom large … That must be weighed against the fact that on this occasion, fuelled by alcohol and drugs with no previous history, you proved to be extremely dangerous,” he told Cocker-Tuiatua.

But Judge Horneman-Wren said Cocker-Tuiatua’s remorse and more recent steps towards reoffending had sufficiently reduced his risk of reoffending.

He sentenced Cocker-Tuiatua to six years imprisonment, with 391 days of presentence custody declared as time already served.

Cocker-Tuiatua will be eligible for parole on October 7, 2025, after serving 50 per cent of his sentence.

Ipswich Police Station and Courthouse. Photo: David Nielsen / The Queensland Times

On October 26, Sebasjiano Cocker-Tuiatua, 24, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court to malicious act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and obstructing a police officer.

Disturbing CCTV footage played to the court showed Bellbird Park man Cocker-Tuiatua brutalising another man on the evening of October 7, 2022.

He dragged an unarmed man onto the tracks, where he repeatedly punched and stomped on the victim’s head.

The video showed Cocker-Tuiatua lifting the victim by his shirt and slamming him into the ground.

The court was told the victim was left motionless on the side of the track and was assisted by a passer-by.

Cocker-Tuiatua’s attack left the victim with fractures to their jaw that required repair with titanium plates and other forms of restorative surgery.

Crown prosecutor Alexandra Baker said Cocker-Tuiatua was located by police after the attack in nearby streets where he obstructed the police officers.

“He agreed to an interview that day, where he identified himself as in the footage and said he didn’t have any recollection of what he had done and had been drinking earlier in the evening,” she said.

“The attack had a profound impact on the victim’s quality of life.

“He was unable to maintain his employment because he could not stand or catch the train at the station, and moved house as a result.

“Drugs and alcohol have been an underlying issue and this is an extremely serious example of a brutal beating which targeted someone defenceless.”

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren was shocked by the violence shown in the footage, comparing the victim to a “human punching bag”.

“There’s no resistance, there’s no retaliation, and yet it was stomp after stomp, punch after punch,” he said.

Judge Horneman-Wren adjourned the court and said he couldn’t make a decision on the sentence immediately.

“I understand this is a very anxious time for you and your family, I just cannot rush to judgement, there’s far too much to be considered.”

The sentence went part-heard and was adjourned to November 3.

Originally published as Sebasjiano Cocker-Tuiatua, 24, from Bellbird Park, in Ipswich Court for bashing of man on Goodna Station train tracks