A 57-year-old Reid’s Flat man has been convicted and given a 12 month good behaviour bond in Young Local Court.
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In front of Magistrate Peter Dare and represented by Ms Rachael Power, Martyn James Gardner entered a guilty plea to his first offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm from an incident that occurred in January.
According to police there had been an ongoing issue between two residents in Reid’s Flat over cattle getting into the leased land of a travelling stock route.
Police said on Monday January 23, cattle had once again entered the travelling stock route, causing the male who was leasing the land - the victim - to approach the cattle owner’s partner.
About 3.30pm on the same day, the victim went to the travelling stock route. At this time the cattle owner, accompanied by Gardner arrived in a vehicle at the travelling stock route.
According to police the cattle owner and the victim had an argument about the cattle, the damage and constant repairs required to the fencing.
"Why don't you just fix the floodgate?" Gardner said.
"Why don’t you mind your own business?" the victim said.
Police said Gardner exited his vehicle at this time and walked around the front, approaching the victim.
"I'll fix you," Gardner said.
Gardner then punched the victim to the right cheek and eye-socket area once with his fist.
The victim who was still talking to the cattle owner was not expecting the punch and was knocked to the ground, dazed for a few seconds.
The punch resulted in the skin of the victim’s cheek to to split and started to bleed profusely.
When the victim fell to the ground the skin of the right forearm became injured and also started bleeding.
The victim stood up dazed and moved his vehicle to allow the cattle owner to enter the travelling stock route, before he returned home and telephoned police.
Police attended and spoke to the victim noting a large amount of dried blood on the cheek, neck, chest and forearm of the victim from his injuries and bruising and swelling was observed on his right eye-socket.
Police then located Gardner at his residence where they questioned him over the incident.
When police asked why he had punched him, Gardner replied that the victim had a go at the cattle owner and the cattle owner’s partner and he supposed he was sticking up for the old bloke.
