South Beach assault: Jacob Andrew Donohue denied bail after alleged attack on stranger over bike

Indigo Lemay-Conway | The West Australian

A Hamilton Hill man will spend Christmas behind bars after allegedly attacking a Perth beachgoer on Tuesday over an argument about the ownership of his mountain bike.

Jacob Andrew Donohue, 44, appeared in custody at Fremantle Magistrates Court on Friday and was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm over the alleged attack of a stranger at South Beach.

Police prosecutor Sgt Michelle Rich told the court around 2.35pm on Tuesday, Mr Donohue allegedly approached the victim at South Beach when he punched him once in the face — rendering him unconscious.

Sgt Rich said Mr Donohue allegedly slammed the bike into the victim’s torso before riding away.

It is alleged that he was partially caught on CCTV cameras riding the bike and when police arrived at his Hamilton Hill address, Sgt Rich said they found the bicycle and clothes similar to the ones the man wore in the footage.

Lawyer Andrew Levalds made a bail application on behalf of Mr Donohue and said the alleged attack was “totally out of character” for his client. However his bail application was refused due to the “seriousness of the attack”.

“He has no prior history of violence and surrendered himself to police after hearing he was being sought,” Mr Levalds said.

“At the time he was the victim of a crime — his bike and house keys were stolen at the time when he confronted the thief.”

Mr Levalds said his client accepted the serious nature of the offence but did not fully agree with the facts.

Sgt Rich strongly opposed bail on the grounds that the attack “seriously endangered the life” of the victim.

“As of 8.15am this morning, the victim is still in an induced coma — he is intubated and the hospital is trying to get him into surgery to repair facial fractures,” Sgt Rich said.

Mr Donohue’s bail application was rejected and will be remanded in custody until his next appearance on January 17.

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