Nightclub brawler found guilty of assault

Monday 01 October 2018

After punching another man on the chin and rendering him unconscious, a nightclubber has been found guilty of grave and criminal assault, and being drunk and disorderly.

Jake Langlois (29) was found guilty of punching another man in Chambers following a trial in the Magistrate's Court.

Mr Langlois had been in Chambers on 5 May this year when he got into an argument with someone else on a night out. The court heard that the two men exchanged words on the dance floor before Mr Langlois punched the victim in the chin, causing him to fall to floor and become unconscious. The victim then had to be carried out of the bar.

Mr Langlois was immediately arrested on suspicion of grave and criminal assault, but later protested that the victim had been the real aggressor.

Advocate Luke Sette, defending, put forward a case that his client was merely trying to defend himself.

Pictured: The trial took place over one day in the Magistrate's Court, resulting in Mr Langlois being found guilty of both charges brought against him.

Led by Crown Advocate Chris Baglin, the prosecution called witnesses, including the victim of the assault, the victim’s girlfriend at the time and a doorman who was working at Chambers on the night of the incident. 

The victim said that Mr Langlois was “being quite creepy” around his girlfriend and a younger girl they were with, and that he “politely asked him to move on”, which eventually caused him to become violent. During cross-examination, the victim strenuously denied being aggressive or threatening towards Mr Langlois.

Summing up, Advocate Baglin said that “the victim did not threaten the defendant at any time” and described the attack as “a forceful blow, straight to the face”, leading the doorman to become “concerned” for the victim.

Having listened to evidence on both sides of the case, Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris ultimately found Mr Langlois guilty of grave and criminal assault and being drunk and disorderly on a licensed premises.

The Assistant Magistrate asked for a report on Mr Langlois and his personal circumstances to be prepared before he is sentenced.