Peter Lawrence McGuire granted bail facing grievous bodily harm allegations

A 30-year-old father who allegedly broke a complete stranger’s skull when he punched him for stepping into a bike path has been released on bail.

A 30-year-old father who allegedly broke a complete stranger’s skull when he punched him for stepping into a bike path has been released on bail despite strong evidence.

Peter Lawrence McGuire was granted bail in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday after he was accused of causing another man grievous bodily harm late at night on May 28.

The court heard Mr McGuire was riding a bike when he started abusing a man who had stepped into a Baringa bike path.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said it was then Mr McGuire allegedly attacked the man.

“ (Mr McGuire got) … off the bike walking over to this stranger, striking him once to the head causing the victim to fall backwards and strike his head on a concrete path,” he said.

Mr McLaughlin said the alleged attack could have easily been an example of a one punch can kill case.

“Very serious injuries were caused, a fractured skull (and) bleeding on the brain,” he said.

The alleged victim was taken to Brisbane hospital and underwent surgery, but has since returned home with his family.

The long term impacts to the man, who is still unable to work six months after the incident, had not been determined.

A poor quality video taken by the alleged victim’s partner, shows the alleged attacker as a large overweight man with dark marks on his skin, wearing long dark trousers with a distinct light coloured strip or logo on the left outer thigh.

Mr McLaughlin said photos of Mr McGuire, taken by police after he was arrested, bear a striking resemblance to the alleged attacker who had the same build, similar haircut and a large tattoo on his back.

The court also heard police found the same pair of pants worn by the alleged attacker in Mr McGuire’s possession and phone records placed him in the area at the time of the attack.

“That alone is a pretty good case for identification of the defendant, he is in the location, he looks like the man and he has a pair of trousers just like the man …,” Mr McLaughlin.

The court heard Mr McGuire allegedly confessed to an undercover police officer who was placed in a cell with the 30-year-old.

“ (Mr McGuire) … allegedly said ‘yeah Friday the c--t was three times my size, so if it wasn’t me getting the job done c--t they would have been scraping me off the floor,” he said.

Police prosecutor Amanda Brewer opposed bail on the basis that Mr McGuire was an unacceptable risk of reoffending and endangered the welfare of a person.

Sergeant Brewer said it was a strong crown case against the man, who had violent offences on his history.

Solicitor Leisel Rogan said the admissibility of the alleged confession as evidence was questionable.

Mr McLaughlin agreed the use of the evidence was arguable and needed to be addressed, but said it looked as if it could be used for the crown’s case.

Mr McLaughlin said Mr McGuire’s last offence of violence was eight years ago and described him as a “petty drug user and public nuisance”.

“This seems to be quite an isolated incident and I would have thought the risk of him attacking somebody else on the street is really quite low and in the circumstances I think he should be granted bail,” he said.

He said given Mr McGuire didn’t know the alleged victim or his partner he said the risk of him endangering them was low.

Mr McGuire is not allowed to come to the Sunshine Coast unless it’s to attend a prearranged appointment with a lawyer or to attend court as a defendant.

The bail conditions ensured Mr McGuire didn’t run into the alleged victim.

The matter was adjourned to September 19 for a committal mention.

Originally published as Peter Lawrence McGuire granted bail facing grievous bodily harm allegations