‘Absolutely mindless, outrageous violence’: Tyrese James Kennell, David John Douglas Pitt, Russell Thomas Savage face court over CBD attacks

A judge slammed the actions of a trio who, along with a teen, attacked and bashed tourists in two separate and sustained attacks in Cairns CBD last July.

Three wannabe gangsters and a 17-year-old teen bashed a tourist couple in the Cairns CBD as they “ran for their lives,” and a harrowing video of their horrendous violence was played in court as the adult trio was sentenced.

They attacked a lone man on McLeod St before moving in a feral pack to the corner of Grafton St and Shields St last July, where a French couple on a night out were subject to a terrifying chase and assault.

One of the men used a work boot to hit his victims in the head with, another had a knife.

Tyrese James Kennell, who just turned 21, pleaded guilty to robbery with violence in company and assault occasioning bodily harm in Cairns District Court this week.

His defence included that he was drunk and much of the night was a blur.

Kennell also suffered the tragic loss of seven-month-old twins, born prematurely, with his partner.

With no criminal history, Kennell has been on bail.

David John Douglas Pitt, 28, pleaded guilty to four charges including armed robbery in company with a knife using personal violence, robbery in company with violence, and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Three wannabe gangsters and a 17-year-old teen bashed a tourist couple in the Cairns CBD as they “ran for their lives,” and a harrowing video of their hrrendous violence was played in court as the adult trio was sentenced.

His previous history includes lighting a grass fire in the southern suburbs, which resulted in a medical centre being evacuated, and he has been in custody since the night of violence.

His defence included a diagnosis of schizophrenia and alcohol consumption.

Russell Thomas Savage pleaded guilty to robbery in company while armed with a knife and using personal violence, robbery in company with violence and assault occasioning bodily harm.

He wore casual clothes and thongs and appeared to have a wary expression.

Savage and Pitt have both done about 11 months in pre-sentence custody.

Savage’s defence was he was remorseful, engaged with Youth Empowered Towards Independence, less complicit than the others, although he did inflict blows, he was not the instigator, and was heavily under the influence of alcohol.

Prosecutor Seamus McManus said the first attack was random and violent and in the second attack “they ran for their lives, it would have been a terrifying ordeal”.

CCTV video of both attacks played to the court showed a man on the ground at 1.44am on McLeod St, enduring a sustained attack, being repeatedly punched and kicked, while Kennell bounced up and down the street trying to smash into shopfronts.

The pack retreated, and circled in again for more savage blows.

The man suffered a fracture, lacerations, bruising and swelling.

His shoes were stolen.

The trio then relocated to the corner of Grafton St and Shields St where a French couple were strolling toward Sheridan St. The group closed in, circling the woman as the man flees, before coming back and grabbing his partner’s hand, and they run together as they were attacked.

The couple stop just past Jimmy’s Burgers on Sheridan St and tried to shield themselves as both were assaulted, until a police car with flashing lights appears and the group flee.

The man tried to drag the woman away from them, he fell heavily, got back up and was knocked to the ground again.

Mr McManus said Pitt was the instigator but a gang mentality prevailed and community denunciation had to be a big factor in sentencing.

“It was absolutely mindless, outrageous violence on three people who happened to be walking through town,” Judge Tracy Fantin said.

The court heard Pitt was too drunk to be interviewed when arrested.

Kennell received a head sentence of two years and six months with immediate parole.

Judge Fantin said there was no causal link between Pitt’s mental health condition and the offending, he was on a treatment authority to receive depot injections but chose to get drunk, and his schizophrenia was not a mitigating factor and did not reduce his moral culpability.

Pitt received a four year head sentence and a parole eligibility date of November 14, 2024, with 328 days in custody declared time served.

Savage received a head sentence of three years and six months, with 324 days declared as time served and a parole eligibility date of September 17.

Originally published as ‘Absolutely mindless, outrageous violence’: Tyrese James Kennell, David John Douglas Pitt, Russell Thomas Savage face court over CBD attacks