December 20, 2006 10:38am
A TEENAGER may be jailed after he was found guilty today of riot and affray over the beating of a man who took shelter on a train from rampaging youths during the Cronulla riot.
Brent David Lohman, 19, of Caringbah in Sydney's south, was charged with punching and kicking a man on December 11 last year.
He said he had been acting in self-defence.
The victim, Ali Hashimi, had sought shelter in a train carriage at Cronulla railway station when youths began targeting anyone who looked Middle Eastern.
Lohman had pleaded not guilty to one count of riot and affray.
In Sutherland Local Court, Magistrate William Brydon rejected Lohman's claim he had been acting in self-defence.
In evidence submitted to the court, Lohman told police he was protecting the 14-year-old brother of a friend from Mr Hashimi, whom he said had run at them and thrown the first punch.
Mr Brydon said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Hashimi instigated the fight.
"I find that he (Mr Hashimi) came together and the accused punched Mr Hashimi repeatedly," Mr Brydon said.
Mr Hashimi was then attacked by at least 12 other people who got on the train.
Mr Brydon said he was thinking of a custodial sentence.
The case was adjourned to February 23.
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