Josef Kovacs, Codie Bulley, Zayden Hirst plead guilty to Cooran burglary, assault

Three Gympie men have been sent to jail for their roles in a disturbing burglary and assault of a couple involving a wooden bat and sword.

Josef Bryan Kovacs, Codie Andrew Bryce Bulley and Zayden Hirst faced Maroochydore District Court on Thursday. Picture: Patrick Woods

Three Gympie men have been sent to jail for their roles in a bloody burglary and assault of a couple with weapons including a sword.

Stunned supporters of Josef Bryan Kovacs, 21, Codie Andrew Bryce Bulley, 22, and Zayden Hirst, 23, watched on as the trio were escorted into custody on Thursday for being involved in the disturbing break in of a caravan at Cooran, which resulted in a man and a woman being attacked.

The trio, who said their goodbyes to loved ones in Maroochydore District Court, all pleaded guilty to assault while armed in company, burglary by break while armed in company with property damage, while Kovacs admitting to additional an assault charge and 29 drug related charges including 26 counts of supplying a dangerous drug, producing dangerous drugs and possessing dangerous drugs over the schedule.

Hirst pleaded guilty to an extra charge of obstructing police.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark said the sorry saga began following Kovac’s sexual relationship with his cousin’s ex-girlfriend.

The court heard the woman went out with Kovac’s cousin prior to this and shared a child.

Zayden Hirst outside court. Picture: Sam Turner

This ended however the woman moved in with the 21-year-old where they had an intimate relationship.

Mr Stark said this also deteriorated and the woman moved into a caravan in the Noosa hinterland.

The Crown prosecutor said there was hostility between Kovacs and his cousin during this time which came to a head on July 11, 2023 when the cousin and the woman went to a zoo on the Sunshine Coast.

The woman received calls from Kovacs which ended up being answered by his cousin.

This enraged the 21-year-old who messaged “f--- that dog” and claimed he would “bring some mates” to “f--- your place up”.

After hearing this threat, the pair raced back to the caravan at Cooran to find Kovacs, Bulley and Hirst were there.

Mr Stark said prior to their arrival, Kovacs and Bulley went inside the mobile home and wreaked havoc. The pair damaged property including walls and photos while Hirst was the lookout.

The court was told Kovacs had a bat while the other two men had a sword and a timber bat with a metal chain on it. It was unclear which of the man had the two last weapons.

Kovac’s cousin saw the trio, armed with their weapons, and grabbed a tool to defend himself.

Mr Stark said all three men then attacked the cousin, where he was struck with a timber bat and metal chain on his arm and hit in the back of the neck with a bat by Kovacs.

The male victim was then struck in the foot with the sword by a third man.

The incident happened at a caravan in Cooran.

Kovacs tackled and punched the woman. It’s not alleged Bulley or Hirst were involved in this assault.

The court heard she pushed him off, however the trio focused their anger on the cousin once again. She then punched Kovacs in the face.

In the midst of the madness, the two victims tried to get away as one of the men waved a sword at them, with Kovacs yelling out for them to “stab” the woman.

She threw a metal bar at Kovacs and told them to “f--- off” before they were able to escape from the group and call an ambulance.

The court heard the male victim suffered a major cut to his foot and bruising to his spine while the woman sustained grazes to parts of her body.

The police were called and located the three men at Kovacs’ home.

During a search of Kovacs’ home, the court heard police found several marijuana plants, cannabis and evidence of more than a dozen minor marijuana deals on the 21-year-old’s mobile phone.

Mr Stark said when the pair were detained, Hirst became agitated and ran at one of the officers.

All three men were charged and granted bail, with the prosecution stating Kovacs was the “ringleader” of the incident.

Kovacs’ defence barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown said the 21-year-old landscaper, who had no criminal history bar one breach of bail, had admitted his behaviour was unacceptable and had since received counselling for his issues.

All three men pleaded guilty. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Barrister Nathan Turner, acting for Bulley, said the 22-year-old volunteer farm worker went to the caravan under the impression no one would be home.

Mr Turner said Bulley wrote an apology letter, abstained from drugs and alcohol and had mental health conditions which sometimes led to him to engage in “reckless decision making” when impaired.

Barrister Mark Dixon, for Hirst, conceded the 23-year-old had a criminal history which included a cowardly attack on an IGA worker who he thought was “looking at my missus”. He received probation with no conviction recorded.

Mr Dixon said the bricklayer was exposed to drugs at a young age but had now moved past being a risk to the community and had done his own drug counselling. He also cited Hirst was only the “lookout” for the burglary.

All three barristers asked for a sentence which did not require their clients to serve time in actual custody.

Judge Glen Cash accepted the young men co-operated with the justice system and believed they were unlikely to offend again but plainly stated the community could not tolerate violence like they inflicted.

Kovacs was jailed for three years, to be suspended after he served nine months of actual time.

Bulley was jailed for two-and-a-half years, to be suspended after seven months in jail, while Hirst was jailed for two years but will be released on parole after serving six months.

The public gallery, brimming with family and friends of the men, wept as the men were led to prison.

Originally published as Josef Kovacs, Codie Bulley, Zayden Hirst plead guilty to Cooran burglary, assault