A GOULBURN jail inmate who committed a “horrendous assault” on convicted gang rapist Bilal Skaf has received a custodial sentence.
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Travis Lee Braam, 25, was convicted in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday for the April 2 assault, which resulted in serious facial injuries to Skaf.
Braam is currently serving a 15-year sentence for a November 2010 home invasion in south Grafton. He is eligible for parole in November 2019.
Police facts tendered to the court said Braam, along with fellow inmate Jesse Lunn-Reid, assaulted Skaf in a yard at Goulburn jail.
Skaf was knocked to the ground, laying “unconscious and motionless on the ground, seemingly unable to defend himself” while the assault continued.
While on the ground, Lunn-Reid kicked Skaf in the face a number of times, snapping his head back.
Braam dragged Skaf over to a nearby covered area, jumping up and down on his head and face “several times with his full weight”.
Both men dragged the unconscious Skaf over to the yard gate, demanding Corrective Services officers “get him out of here”.
Skaf, who is serving a minimum of 32 years for his role in a series of gang rapes in 2000, was taken to Goulburn Hospital for treatment for lacerations, bruising and swelling. He refused to assist police with their enquiries.
In court on Wednesday, Braam’s solicitor Rodney Boyd said his client “clearly had a problem with violence”.
Mr Boyd said Braam and Lunn-Reid assaulted Skaf, because they believed he had a weapon.
“They felt their only response was to attack,” Mr Boyd said.
“This would alleviate their fear that he would attack them.”
Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman said Braam had “a significant history of violence”, resulting in some 27 charges during his incarceration.
“While it happened with this background of tension and fear, it was a most horrendous assault,” Ms Huntsman said.
“You have a significant history of violence… this level of shocking and inexcusable violence must be discouraged.”
Braam was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, to be served concurrently with his existing sentence.
Lunn-Reid was sentenced to 18 months in May for his role in the assault. An appeal this week in the District Court was rejected.
