A MOUNT Gambier man has been fined $1000 for assaulting a man at the Mount Gambier Hospital which caused the victim to jump over the emergency department triage counter.
Troy James Wimutu, 24, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court to be sentenced for assault, disorderly behaviour and assault of police.
The prosecution said the incident occurred on March 16 at the Mount Gambier Hospital.
The defendant chased and threatened the victim who jumped the triage counter in the emergency department.
Wimutu was also about to jump the counter before he was convinced not to by the nurses.
An eyewitness – who did not wish to be named – was waiting in the emergency department with a child, when the incident occurred.
“I was really concerned for my own safety and the safety of the nurses because both men were really agitated,” she said.
“It was a frightening experience and there was no security presence to defuse the situation.”
Staff initiated a “code black” and police were called to the premises.
While no physical assault was made against the victim, Wimutu was charged with the offence due to the threats made.
Wimutu said he was aggressive towards the victim because he was “feeding his friend’s morphine addiction”.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson said the incident would have been very frightening for people at the hospital.
When police located the defendant, they attempted to arrest the defendant who raised his fists in a threatening manner.
Once again no physical contact was made, however the threat constituted an assault.
Magistrate Anderson accepted there were no physical assaults in each incident.
“However, it is not appropriate to take the law into your own hands,” Magistrate Anderson said.
Wimutu was fined $1000 for the offending.
At the time of the incident, questions were raised over the ongoing issue of the lack of security at the Mount Gambier Hospital.
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell said the nature of the incident and the fact it happened in the middle of the day was concerning for both staff and members of the public.
“It feels like I’m belting my head against a brick wall as I have raised this issue before, yet things keep happening,” Mr Bell said.
“They need better security measures put in place whether that be by the way of personnel or other means.”
