Gay Man Jailed For 'Forceful Blow'

Local News, By hazyinseptember, 27th May, 2009

Sunshine Coast man Damien Soden, 30, has been jailed for breaking a fellow patron’s jaw at Brisbane gay club the Wickham Hotel in 2007.

Claiming he was defending his boyfriend, Mr Soden punched Karl Hammant in the jaw, breaking it as well as his own hand.

Mr Soden was “always the peacemaker,” his lawyer claimed, and told the court that he had tried to calm down the argument between his boyfriend and others. He also assisted his victim before leaving the venue with his boyfriend.

Facing two years jail, eligible for parole after six months, the judge sentencing Soden stated that even though he had unleashed only one punch “it must have been a forceful blow.”

According to The Brisbane Times, Crown prosecutor Jody-Ann Thomas told the court that Mr Hammant’s jaw was broken in two places and required metal plates and screws to help it heal. In a statement the victim said that he now felt unsafe in public, had difficulty eating and ongoing pain from the injury.

Throughout his sentencing Soden was heard to be crying uncontrollably. He is no longer in a relationship with the boyfriend he was protecting at the time.

Your Thoughts

TheOldie

said ages ago

What the fuck was his lawyers doing ? use Nick D'arcy's lawyers next time. Appeal !

rudeboy86

said ages ago

2 years with parole after 6 months??? WTF?!? Had he been a footballer or straight for that matter then I don't think he would have gotten such a bullshit sentence.

Leggey

said ages ago

Nice boyfriend. I bet the guy regrets stnading up hin now!

torilee

said ages ago

Hate to say that's exactly what I was thinking, too. :p

ilbonito

said ages ago

Oh, please. The guy he beat up was (presumably) gay too, don't forget! He is a gay basher!

gaynproud

said ages ago

Anyone that wants to make a physical confrontation whether they be gay or straight deserves what the law dictates. If that law is more harsh in Queensland than it is in other states than so be it. He broke a guys jaw. It could easily have been brain damage or for that matter death. Queensland has been running an advertising campaign for quite some time now about the repercussions of inflicting violence on others whether it be the person throwing the punch or the person receiving the punch. From memory it may have actually stemmed from an incident in the Brunswick St Mall in Brisbane where a gay guy was punched by another guy on the footpath and subsequently gay guy died. At around the same time there were several other people that were either killed or severely injured in fighting incidents so the Queensland governement acted and brought in harsher laws and a widespread advertising campaign in regards to violence especially caused by alcohol.

blueterrace

said ages ago

Nick Darcy walks, this guy gets 2 years. Something is seriously wrong here

veganwinter

said ages ago

This is absolute Bullshit!!!

datkindagal

said ages ago

hasnt our justice system got more important things to do ffs?

datkindagal

said ages ago

yes a boofhead footballer would of got a smidgen of bad media attention, a 10,000 fine and a slap on the wrist. This clearly illustrates our justice system at its worst. 2 years with parole after 6 months??? WTF?!? Had he been a footballer or straight for that matter then I don't think he would have gotten such a bullshit sentence.

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