A Bandidos Motorcycle Club member was on bail when he assaulted a man at Latrobe in 2018, a court has heard.
Todd Michael Walker, 37, was found guilty of the aggravated burglary and assault of Zdravko ‘Nick’ Sujica at Latrobe in 2018 by a jury in the Supreme Court at Burnie.
Mr Sujica told the court the pair were acquaintances who had met on a few occasions at the East Devonport clubhouse in 2018.
In April 2018, Mr Sujica, who was not a patched member, was charged by police for an unrelated incident at Ridgley, which was linked to the Bandidos in media coverage, the court was told.
Prosecutor Georgia Robinson told the court Walker visited Mr Sujica at his residence in June 2018 asking for him to pay $2000 upon the request of Victorian club members for attracting bad publicity to the club.
The jury heard Walker returned to Mr Sujica’s house on June 10 and kicked and punched him, while another disguised man hit him with a tomahawk.
Walker arrived at the Latrobe residence between 6am and 6.30am demanding Mr Sujica pay the money, the court heard.
He sustained a wound to his right hand from the tomahawk and lied to Mersey Community Hospital staff about how it was caused when receiving stitches after the assault, the court heard.
Ms Robinson told Justice Robert Pearce that Walker was on bail for unlawfully trafficking firearms when he assaulted Mr Sujica.
She said Walker had been previously convicted for common assault in 2003, 2005, 2007 and on two occasions in 2008.
Ms Robinson asked Justice Pearce to take into account when sentencing Walker that the assault happened in the presence of Mr Sujica’s elderly aunt who had submitted a victim impact statement, that he sustained injuries, was on the ground when he was kicked and that the assault happened in his home.
Awaiting trial had cost Walker “significantly”, according to defence lawyer Todd Kovacic.
Mr Kovacic told Justice Pearce that Walker was working interstate at the time of the offence but had been forced to leave the job when he was charged on account of his bail conditions.
The father of two was currently unemployed, Mr Kovacic said.
He said while it was a “nasty incident” it was “short lived” and there had been “no repercussions” since, despite threats there would be consequences if the police were notified.
Walker’s record was improving, according to Mr Kovacic.
“It seems from his record, violence was part of his life up until eight years ago and it seems to have tapered,” he said.
Walker has been remanded in custody for sentencing in Hobart on August 17.
