A Yarraville man has received a good behaviour bond and been ordered to pay more than $1200 after pleading guilty to assaulting two Maribyrnong councillors at a council meeting in November.
Appearing before the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Frank Amaru, 61, escaped criminal conviction but was ordered to pay $500 to anti-violence campaigners White Ribbon over the assault on Crs Nam Quach and Grant Miles at the conclusion of a fiery council meeting.
He was also ordered to pay $749 to Cr Quach for breaking his glasses when he slammed him to the floor at the November 17 meeting
RELATED: COUNCILLORS STILL SPILT OVER YARRAVILLE PAID PARKING
The police prosecutor told the court Mr Amaru, a labourer and concreter, was agitated and irate when he crossed the gallery to where Cr Miles was sitting next to Cr Quach, after mayor Cameron McDonald had used his casting vote in favour of continuing the paid parking trial in Yarraville village.
Mr Amaru told Cr Miles he would “wipe that smile of your face” before punching him in the face.
Cr Quach attempted to restrain Mr Amaru in a bear-hug but was thrown to the ground, sustaining lacerations to his bottom lip, a sore head and broken glasses.
CR NAM QUACH IS HELPED TO HIS FEET AFTER THE ASSAULT.
Mr Amaru turned himself into Footscray police station at 11am the following morning, telling police he went to speak to Cr Miles and “lost it”.
He told police he hadn’t set out to hurt Cr Quach but reacted when he felt someone grab him from behind.
He told police he was “lost in the moment” and remorseful for his actions.
Defence lawyer Robert Galbally, representing Mr Amaru, told the court his client was a passionate and hard-working Yarraville resident and that his actions were entirely out of character.
Mr Galbally said the context of the assaults was widespread community opposition to the council’s installation of parking meters in Yarraville.
“The majority of the community were opposed to them going in. He has lived there with his wife for 34 years and she has lived there all her life.
“He was upset at an apparent conflict between the decision made at this public meeting and the public’s view as he knew it, there was wholesale community opposition to them, he was opposed to them, and he just saw that this was not justice unfolding, the way in which the meeting unfolded.”
Suppressed hatred of parking meters
Mr Galbally said Mr Amaru was also likely to have a suppressed hatred of parking machines after his son was in The Alfred Hospital … and “close to death” for 74 days after contracting Legionnaire’s Disease.
Mr Amaru would visit his son and need to leave the hospital at regular intervals to re-feed the meters.
“This may explain what was going through his psyche at the time; that he’s got a bit of a hatred of parking meters.”
Magistrate Timothy Bourke interjected that most people do hate parking meters, “when they’re caught”.
Mr Galbally said that there could be no greater sign of remorse than walking into a police station the next day to confess to the assaults.
He summarised “a large number of references” about the churchgoer and “decent family man” with a passion for Yarraville.
“It’s worthwhile pointing out that there was no injury to Mr Miles, who he punched. Cr Quach had a Panadol and an ice pack to deal with this situation.”
In placing Mr Amaru on a 12-month good behaviour bond, Magistrate Bourke told him he would have known passions would be high at the meeting.
Just appalling
“You were against the idea of the parking meters going in, but we live in a democratic society – if you’re not happy vote them out, that’s the way to do it. Whip up a frenzy and vote them out.” Magistrate Bourke said the assaults were “just appalling for a man of your age”.
“I shouldn’t have to be telling a 61-year-old, but life is about learning lessons, learn the lesson and don’t find yourself in this situation again.”
Cr Quach told Star Weekly he was glad Mr Amaru showed remorse and pleaded guilty to the charges.
“I hope and pray we don’t see anything like this in Australian politics again, whether at Maribyrnong, state or federal level.
“We can’t have violence coming into the political or democratic process.”
Cr Miles said he welcomed the magistrate ordering Mr Amaru to make a donation to an anti-violence charity.
“I personally abhor violence in any form, but I understand the gentleman has shown remorse and from my point of view this is the end of the matter.”
Municipal Association of Victoria president Bill McArthur said violent or threatening behaviour towards councillors is “completely unacceptable”.
