Arabic version: مراهق يتجنب الاحتجاز بعد لكمة في شارع هيندلي

According to ABC News, a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons has avoided a custodial sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of basic assault causing harm over an attack outside a Hindley Street nightclub in Adelaide.

The teenager admitted coward-punching 18-year-old Beau Brownbill during the February 14 attack. Brownbill has since been diagnosed with a permanent traumatic brain injury. Adelaide Youth Court heard that he had also been recovering from a brain injury sustained in a sporting accident at the time of the assault.

Magistrate Luke Davis imposed six months’ detention, suspending the sentence when the teenager entered a two-year good behaviour bond. Davis described the offending as “pointless and avoidable”, saying the blows occurred in seconds but had “profound lifelong consequences”.

The magistrate said he accepted there was “an element of self-defence”, but called the teenager’s response “completely unwarranted”. He also said the offender ran off “in a cowardly fashion”.

Outside court, Beau Brownbill’s father, Tony Brownbill, called the sentence “an absolute load of rubbish”, while his mother, Megan Brownbill, said the family was deeply disappointed and devastated. She said they had asked prosecutors to appeal and were working with the Pat Cronin Foundation and Sammy D Foundation to advocate for change and education.

Beau Brownbill said he wanted to continue living his life, including going to the gym and seeing friends, despite the outcome.