Daniel Jack Keizer in Maroochydore court for coward punch near Sol Bar

A former Sunshine Coast cafe owner has narrowly avoided jail time after he coward punched an innocent man outside a nightclub on Ocean St. Find out his punishment.

A former Sunshine Coast cafe owner has been given community service after he coward punched an innocent man outside a popular nightclub on Ocean St, knocking him unconscious.

Daniel Jack Keizer, 41, initially pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and the matter was listed for trial on four occasions that did not eventuate.

After the fifth trial began on September 26, 2022, Keizer decided to plead guilty on the third day of the trial and he was sentenced on September 30, 2022.

The court heard how Keizer had been assaulted himself by an unknown person inside Sol Bar before he went outside with blood on his face and a chipped tooth.

Keizer then coward punched an innocent 25-year-old man in the face.

The court heard the victim had left Post Office and was walking along Ocean St to the taxi rank with his friends.

The victim was not even looking in the direction of Keizer when he was knocked unconscious in the “unprovoked” midnight assault on November 3, 2019, the court heard.

Witnesses observed bleeding to the victim’s ear while two of the victim’s friends chased Keizer and questioned him.

Daniel Jack Keizer in Maroochydore court for coward punch near Sol Bar.

Keizer apologised to the friends but no explanation was provided before he took off again, obstructing two police officers.

He was found hiding down an embankment and told police he had “retaliated” after someone hit him.

In a police interview, Keizer denied any knowledge or recollection of the coward punch to the 25-year-old victim.

The court heard Keizer did not know who had assaulted him and may have had a “mistaken belief” that the victim was the person who assaulted him inside Sol Bar.

The victim suffered a cut to his ear, as well as pain and discomfort in his jaw.

Judge Gary Long said Keizer’s late plea of guilty demonstrated a late display of remorse.

Defence barrister Nathan Turner said his client had been exposed to domestic violence as a child and went to three different high schools.

Keizer left school to work in mechanics and earthmoving before he got a back injury and became dependant on cannabis.

The court heard Keizer had prior criminal history for producing 81 cannabis plants that were estimated to represent $48,000 in street value.

Mr Turner said Keizer was on the disability support pension for his back pain and had opened a cafe with his partner in Eumundi in 2020 that later closed.

“He hardly drinks alcohol now … he is more of a recluse,” Mr Turner said.

Keizer was sentenced to 12 months’ prison suspended for two years with 240 hours of community service for assault occasioning bodily harm and obstructing police.

Originally published as Daniel Jack Keizer in Maroochydore court for coward punch near Sol Bar