A French national who struck a man in the face with a glass during a “pointless and dangerous” brawl at a Tasmanian pub has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Supreme Court Acting Justice Brian Martin said Gaetan Jean Ferrara, 28, had pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding stemming from the incident at the Cygnet Hotel on January 14, 2024.
The court heard that Ferrara, who had been working in Australia on a visa since December 2023, had not intended to wound the victim but “foresaw the risk that you would cause a wound and proceeded regardless”.
Video of the incident showed a fight breaking out between the French people Ferrara was with and a group of locals, with Ferrara striking the victim to the face after the victim laid hands on one of the French people.
The victim suffered “complex and deep facial lacerations” to the left cheek area and multiple smaller cuts to the left side of his face, including one near his eye.
In his victim impact statement, the man said he required around 47 stitches that have left a “very noticeable” scar.
“Every time someone looks at him he wonders if they are looking at the scars. The victim has nightmares and for a time was scared to go out in public,” Martin said.
Justice Martin said Ferrara had no prior convictions and had left Tasmania for Melbourne a few days after the incident, ending up in Queensland, where he was arrested and extradited back to the state.
“I accept that this was a planned departure and not one brought about by fear of repercussions from the night in question,” Martin said.
The judge said such incidents of glasses being used to strike people are “far too common” and carry a risk of “very serious injury and potentially death”.
He sentenced Ferrara, who will likely head back to France, to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, with conditions including good behaviour and a $5,000 payment to the victim.
“But even though you are back in France, that two years still sits there,” Martin said.
