The 12-person jury took less than one hour yesterday to find William Vincent Doyle, 26, guilty of one count of grievous bodily harm following a two-day trial at Mount Isa District Court this week.

In sentencing Doyle, Judge W. G Everson said the crime was a “racially motivated” and “cowardly” attack.

The charges stem from the fighting between a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men at the Back to Boulia event in September, 2007.

The court heard that violent brawls erupted in the bar area just after 10pm on September 29 at the Boulia race ground.

In a matter of minutes, multiple people were fighting, chairs were being thrown, garbage bins were being overturned while people searched for glass bottles to use as weapons and some people were walking through the crowd punching people randomly.

It was alleged that after a fight between two men at the bar had begun near him, the complainant stepped back to avoid becoming involved only to be grabbed by the collar and suddenly punched on the side of his face by Doyle.

The complainant said the punch was enough to spin his body around and knock him to the ground. He told the court on Monday that he did not see who the person was who punched him, adding that judging by the colour of the man’s arms, he was certain it was an Indigenous male.

However, despite several inconsistencies between their stories, multiple witnesses provided evidence in court indicating Doyle as the man who had attacked the complainant.

The complainant was flown to Townsville Hospital where he required wire and plates to be inserted into his jaw, which remained in his face to this day.

Doyle, a talented athlete, had represented Australia in the 110 metre hurdles in 1998 and had also been awarded a scholarship to train with the North Queensland Cowboys rugby league team.

Judge Everson said it was a “tragic waste” Doyle was facing the court.

“What makes this case so tragic is you certainly had talent and opportunity yet you did not make the most of that talent and opportunity. Instead you find yourself being sentenced for a cowardly attack on an innocent man,” he said.

Doyle will begin his sentence today.