AN attack that caused a father to lose an eye during his daughter’s 18th birthday party has been described as “a despicable act”.
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A Thurgoona man was charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm on Wednesday following the incident.
A group had gatecrashed the party in Charles Street, South Albury, about midnight on June 18.
A 53-year-old man tried to intervene after a fight broke out.
He was removing two gatecrashers from the house when he was assaulted by several people.
A 20-year-old man allegedly hit him near his left eye and he was taken to hospital.
Specialists made a decision to remove the eye given the damage.
Detective Inspector Winston Woodward described the incident as “an atrocious crime”.
“It’s sad, the family has gone and undertaken all the right measures to have a party at their residence, they have done everything responsibly,” he said.
“It’s sad that this injury has taken place.
“It’s an atrocious crime.
“To lose an eye, it’s a despicable act.
“Police will allege that a 20-year-old Thurgoona man is responsible.”
The victim told The Border Mail he didn’t want to comment and would let justice run its course.
He needed to be fitted with a prosthetic eye.
Detective Inspector Woodward said the party wasn’t out of control and that just a few unwanted guests had caused the incident.
He said there were offences related to gatecrashing parties.
“The owner of a property has the right to refuse anybody entry,” he said.
“As soon as the owner of a property says you are no longer welcome on the property, you do start to commit the offence of entering enclosed lands, or remaining on enclosed lands after the owner of the property has withdrawn consent for you to be there.”
Nearby residents said Charles Street was generally quiet, with a lot of older people living in the street.
A neighbour said the victim had security at the party.
“There’s a checklist there about precautions you can take to ensure that unwanted guests don’t arrive,” he said.
“In this case though, the owners of the premises have done everything right (and) provided a safe environment for their daughter’s 18th birthday.
“These unwanted guests have turned up at the end of the night. As a result of that, and him trying to do the right thing and break up a fight, he has been assaulted.”
The 20-year-old will front court on August 22.
