UK tourist ‘in beach assault’

By Michelle Herbison
A BRITISH tourist volunteering at Eastern Beach’s Weetbix triathlon experienced more than he signed up for when thieves assaulted him, a court heard this week.
Geelong Magistrates Court heard Danny Russell, 26, of Warren Crt, Thomson, and another male assaulted the 47-year-old victim at the event when he asked them to return his stolen iPod.
Russell punched the victim in the face “without warning or provocation” after his friend accused the victim of calling him a “thief”, the court heard.
The three then began brawling, with another man joining in while trying to stop the fight.
Russell later told police he attacked the victim because “my mate was in trouble… I just wanted them to let go of each other”, the court heard.
Magistrate Stephen Myall criticised Russell’s “overreaction” amid 200 event patrons including children and families.
Russell separately faced 10 theft-related charges, three failures to answer bail and one charge for cannabis possession this week.
He made “full admissions” to police and blamed a drug problem for his stealing, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Shane Balkin urged Mr Myall to consider Russell’s intellectual disability.
His client previously withdrew from a drug treatment program because “his head wasn’t in a very good space at the time” and he was using methamphetamines, Mr Balkin said.
Russell appeared at ease in the dock, wearing a brown T-shirt and jeans.
Mr Myall adjourned the hearing until Thursday, after the Independent went to press.