Man accused of attacking One Nation supporter appears in court
The Geelong Magistrates' Court heard the man has been withdrawing from methamphetamine use since being charged over the alleged assault. (ABC News: Jonathon Kendall)
In short:
The man who allegedly attacked a One Nation supporter in Torquay on Sunday has faced court for the first time.
KJ Seumalu, 37, has been charged with intentionally causing injury and other assault-related offences over the incident on November 1.
The court heard Mr Seumalu, who did not apply for bail, is withdrawing from methamphetamine use.
A man charged with assaulting a One Nation volunteer in Torquay has been withdrawing from methamphetamine abuse since being charged by police, a court has heard.
KJ Seumalu, 37, did not apply for bail after facing the Geelong Magistrates' Court, charged with intentionally causing injury and other assault-related offences.
Mr Seumalu allegedly used a blunt weapon to attack the One Nation supporter, who has not been named, in Torquay on November 1 in an attack police said was not politically motivated.
Mr Seumalu, who is from the south-east Melbourne suburb of Hampton Park, was arrested a short time after the incident on Sunday.
The Geelong Magistrates' Court heard that a man accused of assaulting a One Nation volunteer has substance abuse issues. (ABC News: Jonathon Kendall)
His lawyer told the court the 37-year-old had a "current issue" with drugs and his mental health.
"He reports experiencing depression and anxiety, but there's no formal diagnosis and no medication," his lawyer Elena Felekos told the court.
The court heard he has been in touch with a court-provided mental health service.
Magistrate John Lesser requested a custody management review, where judicial officers identify, record, and assess critical health, safety, and welfare needs "as a matter of caution".
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.