In short:
Henry Laduma has been given a two-year suspended sentence for his involvement in a CBD nightclub brawl.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated assault causing harm and aggravated affray.
What’s next:
Laduma is subject to a two-year behaviour bond, which includes attending violence prevention programs.
An Adelaide man has been handed a two-year suspended sentence for his involvement in a “senseless” gang-related fight outside a nightclub in the city’s CBD.
Henry Laduma was arrested after multiple people were stabbed during a brawl outside the Nairobi Affair Lounge on Grenfell Street on March 13, 2022.
In Adelaide’s District Court on Tuesday, Judge Joanne Tracey said Laduma’s actions included stabbing a man, who suffered a single stab wound to his right lower chest which required sutures.
Judge Tracey said at the time of the incident, Laduma — who had previously been the victim of a stabbing attack — was “having a good night” before he learned his younger cousin had been punched outside the nightclub.
“There was a fight inside the venue, about which you have limited memory, but you do recall a glass being thrown towards you and hitting the wall and smashing,” Judge Tracey said.
“A knife was dropped in front of you, and you recall picking it up.
“You say that your anxiety heightened as you did not want to be a victim again.”
Judge Tracey described CCTV footage of the incident, which showed “several males punching and kicking one another, with glasses being thrown as well as tables.”
Laduma, who was born in Sudan, had earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated assault causing harm and aggravated affray.
Judge Tracey said Laduma had himself been a victim of a stabbing in September 2021, an incident of which he has “limited memory” and “took some time to recover” from.
She also took into account letters from Laduma’s employer and friends which “spoke highly” of him, but stressed the importance of setting an example.
“The seriousness of your offending requires a sentence that deters you and others from resorting to offending in such a senseless, dangerous, and all-too-common way,” Judge Tracey said.
Incident investigated as part of ‘Operation Meld’
At the time of the incident, police said six people were left in hospital as a result of the brawl, with one stabbing victim ending up in a critical condition in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The fight was later investigated by SA Police as part of Operation Meld, aimed at curbing so-called youth gangs.
Laduma’s lawyer previously told the court that his client was “not part of a gang”.
Laduma was originally granted bail in May 2022 and has since been on home detention bail with electronic monitoring.
The court had previously heard Laduma was on bail at the time of his arrest.
Judge Tracey imposed a sentence of two years and 12 days, with a non-parole period of 13 months, which was suspended on condition of a two-year good behaviour bond.
He must also attend violence prevention programs.