Morgan Puru: Gold Coast foreman fined, rebuked by magistrate for Pimpama Tavern meltdown

A Gold Coast foreman who drunkenly took a swing at a punter at Pimpama Tavern, before contravening a police order, has been told by a magistrate he was way out of line.

Pimpama man Morgan John Puru, 47. Picture: Alex Treacy

A Gold Coast foreman who drunkenly took a swing at a punter at a local pub, before contravening a police order, has been told by a magistrate he was way out of line.

Pimpama man Morgan John Puru, 47, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 8, where he pleaded guilty to charges of public nuisance at a licensed premises, and contravening an order or direction of police.

Both offences occurred at the Pimpama Tavern on April 24 this year at about 8.20pm.

Police were called to the tavern to reports of a disturbance, the court heard.

Upon arrival, they were shown CCTV depicting Puru approaching a patron near the pool tables before attempting to punch the man in the head.

The punch missed and the two men grappled before being separated by other patrons, the court heard.

Police took up with the defendant who failed to state his name and address multiple times, protesting his innocence of any misdemeanours.

The court was told Puru had no prior entries on his criminal history.

Defence lawyer Ross Oden told the court his client, a father of four who works as a foreman at a formwork business, was at the pub with his wife when he became “overly intoxicated and very emotional”.

Puru’s reason for attempting to punch the patron was because he perceived the man to have devoted “inappropriate attention” to his wife.

“In the cold light of day he accepts his behaviour was completely unacceptable,” Mr Oden said.

He said his client spent about seven hours in custody after his arrest, and Puru’s wife had to come pick him up from the watch house in the early hours of the morning.

Magistrate Steve Wettenhall told Puru he had behaved like a “drunken buffoon” and “most likely ruined everyone’s night”.

However, he accepted the incident was out of character for the defendant.

Mr Wettenhall fined Puru $500 and did not record any convictions.

Originally published as Morgan Puru: Gold Coast foreman fined, rebuked by magistrate for Pimpama Tavern meltdown