Malik Fleiter pleads guilty to savage beating with stick at Palmwoods

“Do you really want to cop a murder charge?” a hinterland man was warned as he unleashed on another man with a tree branch.

Malik Emil Fredrick Fleiter faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court from custody this week. Picture: Sam Turner

A Palmwoods man has been released from custody for a gratuitous assault of another man with a metre long tree branch.

Malik Emil Fredrick Fleiter’s attack which caused a serious cut to the victim's forehead was recounted in Maroochydore Magistrates Court this week following the 25-year-old’s pleas of guilty to wilful damage and assault.

Police prosecutor Stephen Potter said the 25-year-old’s said the most serious offence was on September 27 last year where Fleiter was seen angrily walking through a skate park in Palmwoods while carrying a metre long tree branch.

After some time walking, Fleiter made it to a public toilet block next to a car park and threatened a man who was friends with his former partner.

It was here Fleiter struck the man twice with the implement in a rage.

He pleaded guilty to his charges. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Come on mate you really don’t want to do this, just let us be,” the victim told Fleiter.

Sergeant Potter said Fleiter swung the stick at the victim several times however the other man blocked his swings with a star picket he found.

Fleiter then threw stones at the victim who dodged them however had his phone damaged in the process.

The Palmwoods’s man did not relent and struck the victim in the head with the stick, which caused blood to splatter over him and a witness.

The victim swung the star picket once more to defend himself however Fleiter struck the victim again with his branch which caused them to fall to the ground.

He tried to get up when Fleiter struck the man again with the stick.

“Are you really going to cop a murder charge over all this bulls--t,” the victim said as Fleiter approached him while he was on the ground.

The Palmwoods man then fled the scene.

Sergeant Potter said the victim suffered a minor fracture to his jaw and a cut to his forehead which required stitches. He also suffered from bruising and swelling.

Fleiter was arrested on March 18 this year and remanded in custody where he spent 120 days behind bars before his sentence this week.

Fleiter was released from the watch-house hours after his sentence. Picture: Sam Turner

The victim spoke of the impact of the 25-year-old’s crimes which included feelings of anxiety, sleeplessness, nightmares and how he had to see specialists and doctors due to post traumatic stress disorder.

He said the assault affected him financially from ongoing medical appointments and had lost his job due to his poor mental health. The victim said it had been “incredibly difficult” for him to move forward with his life.

Defence solicitor Rod Morgan said this was Fleiter’s first time in jail and accepted prison time was a fair punishment for the assault.

Mr Morgan said Fleiter was upset at the time after his ex-girlfriend started a new relationship.

This frustration, partnered with substance abuse, led to the offending.

Mr Morgan said Fleiter would work with his brother as a steel fixer upon his release from custody.

Magistrate Raelene Ellis said the impact on the assault victim was significant, with photos before the court depicting “quite disturbing” injuries.

She said the assault warranted 12 months’ in jail but set his parole release date as of Wednesday this week due to the four months he already served behind bars.

Fleiter must also pay $1000 restitution to the victim.

Originally published as Malik Fleiter pleads guilty to savage beating with stick at Palmwoods