RACHAEL BURNT | Court Reporter | Contact
A South Betoota man was sentenced to serve a maximum of 12 months behind bars today with a non-parole period of six months after being found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm upon a friend during a night out at the Betoota Golf Club earlier this year.
Sam Frucor tricked a friend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, into consuming a shot of black sambuca – an Italian anise-flavoured, usually poisonous, liqueur.
In sentencing the 23-year-old, local Magistrate Helen Waterford said that a custodial sentence was required due to the shocking nature of the crime.
“The victim of this heinous act will suffer the consequences of it for the rest of his life,” said Waterford.
“Being tricked into consuming black sambuca is cruel, inhumane and degrading. Especially after the victim made it clear that he simply cannot stand it, that it’d kill him,”
“And Mr Frucor ignored that.”
Shortly after consuming the toxic substance, the victim’s eyes rolled back in his head and he went limp after losing consciousness.
Police alleged at the time that the victim then regained consciousness on the floor of the Chinese restaurant annexe of the Betoota Golf Club and threw up on himself until paramedics arrived.
Authorities later charged Frucor after interviewing the victim in hospital.
More to come.
