Aurukun labourer, Darryl Mason Wolmby, punched four people on street during community unrest

A young man has pleaded guilty to five counts of affray after he punched several men in the street during two days of community unrest in Aurukun in February that arose from sorry business.

Darryl Mason Wolmby, 22, pleaded guilty to five counts of affray over his part in two days of community unrest in Aurukun on February 18 and 19 this year.

A young man who punched four people in the street during two days of community unrest in Aurukun has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Labourer, Darryl Mason Wolmby, 22, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to five counts of affray.

The court was told he was filmed on police body worn cameras punching four different men on five occasions during street fighting in Aurukun when 200-300 people were gathered in the town, upset and angry about sorry business.

Wolmby, 22, was captured on police body-worn cameras punching four people – one twice – during street violence in Aurukun involving 200 to 300 people.

Wolmby punched each of the men with a closed fist in fights on the street on the afternoon of February 18 and February 19, hitting the same man twice on different days.

His defence solicitor Ashley Raymond said Wolmby had been deeply affected by grief and wanted to return to the community so that he could be a pallbearer.

He said Wolmby was young, had qualifications in bobcat driving and a white card, and was keen to get back to work at the council, the mines or with the Government building public housing.

Magistrate Leanne Scoines sentenced Wolmby to eight months prison, wholly suspended for 15 months.

Magistrate Leanne Scoines sentenced him to eight months prison, wholly suspended for 15 months, urging him to find work as soon as possible.

“Unfortunately, getting caught up in street violence and community violence has been a feature of your young life,” Ms Scoines said.

Originally published as Aurukun labourer, Darryl Mason Wolmby, punched four people on street during community unrest