A teenager who was left with multiple facial fractures after being punched during school leavers celebrations in Perth says its “outrageous” his attacker avoided jail.
Andrew McNab was hit by young footballer, Rhyce Bailey Butcher Corney, when a dispute broke out between his friends and another group during the festivities in Dunsborough on November 20 last year.
Butcher Corney, who was 18 and drunk at the time, claimed he was startled by Mr McNab, who had suddenly appeared next to him, and he took a swing.
The impact left Mr McNab with a fractured cheek bone and eye socket, which required surgery, and damaged teeth. He’s also yet to regain full feeling in his face, according to his victim impact statement.
Butcher Corney pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 months in prison, suspended for 20 months with strict conditions.
But Mr McNab said it was “outrageous” he would be able to “roam free”.
“If you don’t understand this, he pretty much got off with almost killing me,” he said in an update for friends and family on Facebook.
“It’s outrageous that this was the outcome. The fact the justice system is allowing people like that to just roam around without major punishment is beyond me, but there is nothing more that can be done.”
Mr McNab said Butcher Corney had struck his face with such force, that he was now questioning whether he’d ever have feeling on the right side of his face again.
“(I) now have a metal plate and screws on the right side of my face and will live with these for the rest of my life,” he said.
“I hope to see one day that these situations will be avoided and people see that their actions can have devastating consequences to others.”
‘WAKE-UP CALL OF HIS LIFE’
Defence counsel Linda Black had previously said Butcher Corney had been "to hell and back" since the incident.
The court heard he was on bail for the offence earlier this year, when police saw him throw a bottle in the direction of his girlfriend following an argument.
It resulted in him spending 78 days in prison until the charge was downgraded and he was fined $500.
That time in prison terrified him, Ms Black said.
"He looked like he was about to pass out...Mr Butcher Corney has had a wake-up call of his life."
Judge Lemonis accepted Butcher Corney was genuinely remorseful and had taken steps for rehabilitation. But general deterrence was also a significant factor, he added.
"You came very close today to going back to prison," he said.
The judge warned Butcher Corney that if he breached his conditionally suspended sentence it would be "almost inevitable" that he would return to prison.
- With AAP
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Teen slams ‘outrageous’ decision after attacker avoids jail - NEWS.com.au"
Post a Comment