Street fighters who knocked out man warned they could face prison time

The Magistrates Court Picture: ROB CURRIE. (35761949)

THREE 20-year-old men who admitted attacking another man – knocking him unconscious for a short time – have been warned they could be jailed.

Rory Paul Hamilton Askew, Jacob Maximus Lucas and Kaydee Waters pleaded guilty to grave and criminal assault in what was described by Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris as ‘a cowardly attack’.

He told the trio that they were lucky the victim had not been left with permanent physical injuries, as that would have increased the severity of their sentences.

Lucas also admitted separate charges of possessing quantities of cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, a class B drug.

The Magistrate’s Court was shown graphic footage of the attack, which took place at the Weighbridge on the night of 8 January.

In it one of the defendants can be seen punching the victim in the face. Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho, prosecuting, said one of the men then held their victim in a headlock while he was pushed to the ground, punched and stamped on. The victim fell unconscious for 19 seconds, the court heard.

He was examined by a forensic medical examiner after the attack, but was found to have no long-term injuries.

Mr Harris adjourned sentencing until 16 June to allow time for background reports to be prepared but said the case was at the upper limit of what the Magistrate’s Court could deal with, and warned the three defendants: ‘Custody is something that the court will have in mind.’

The men were all released on bail.

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