Luke Krushka: Axe-wielding cop basher in final bid to avoid jail

A man who bashed two men, one of them an off-duty cop, while also swinging an axe at them, has launched a final bid to avoid jail, which is where he’s been ordered to go. UPDATED >>

A Launceston traffic controller who swung an axe at two men, one of whom was an off-duty police officer, after bashing the pair, has been ordered to return to custody after previously spending three weeks on remand, but a last throw of the legal dice means he remains in the community.

Prospect man Luke Andrew Krushka, 24, was found guilty previously by Launceston Magistrate Ken Stanton of two counts each of common assault and assaulting a police officer, and one of possessing a dangerous article in a public place.

Magistrate Stanton sentenced Krushka to a 12-month Community Correction Order and 25 weeks’ imprisonment, 16 weeks of which were suspended for a period of 18 months, meaning ordinarily that Krushka would have been returned to custody at the conclusion of the sentence on Friday.

However, Magistrate Stanton order a stay on proceedings so the case could be reviewed in the Supreme Court, with that set to occur on March 15.

Launceston Magistrates Court previously heard all Krushka’s offences were committed on May 29, 2020, with the victims being off-duty police officer Thomas Moir and his brother Matthew.

The court heard Krushka bashed both Moir brothers, fracturing the nose of Thomas and injuring Matthew’s wrist, which at one point appeared likely to need surgery – and swung an axe at the pair, luckily not connecting with either.

Krushka, who was aged 22 at the time of the incident, had three prior convictions for common assault, all of which were committed between September and November 2019, the court was told.

Breaking News Breaking News Prospect man Luke Andrew Krushka, 24. Picture: Facebook

One of the assaults was committed against his father, who made a formal complaint to help break his son’s cycle of drug and alcohol abuse.

Anger management remained an issue for Krushka, the court heard.

In Launceston Magistrates Court on Wednesday, it was submitted on Krushka’s behalf he had completely rehabilitated himself from his formerly violent ways.

Since his release from custody, where he spent 21 days following the commission of the current offences, Krushka had become a father for the first time, gained new employment as a traffic controller – he lost his job as a scaffolder when he was remanded in custody – and become a team leader within the new company.

He was clean from illicit substances and only consumed the odd beer on special occasions like Christmas, the court was told.

Furthermore, Krushka enjoyed the “loving” support of his family, both his own and his in-laws, and had sought and received psychological help for his issues.

In summary, he was a “gainfully employed, rehabilitated, sober father-of-two who is a contributing member of society,” the court heard.