Yesterday (December 14) Townsville courthouse heard, Christian Tapaitau, 37, plea of guilty to the attack on a co-worker at Phosphate Hill mining camp and was sentenced to two years in jail, with release on a suspended sentence after serving eight months.

The court heard how on November 8, 2015, the victim of Tapaitau’s attack finished work and went to the communal area of Phosphate Hill mining camp to drink beers.

Mr Tapaitau and co- offender Jason Raby got in a fight with the victim. Raby allegedly tried to punch the man four times, then headbutted him.

Judge Lynham said the ­victim was “pleading” for Raby to stop, and when he bent over, Raby allegedly kneed him in the head. The judge said ­Tapaitau joined in and started punching the victim in the face.

The victim eventually escaped and resided to a friend’s unit.

“He started to have a shower and at that point in time, you (Tapaitau) came into the bathroom, where the complainant was, and you began punching him a number of times,” Judge Lynham said.

The victim’s friend said ­Tapaitau invited Raby into the bathroom and he heard noises.

“Raby then came out and said to (the victim’s friend), if you say anything I’ll kill you, you’ll get the same thing as he did, I’ll rape your family,” Judge Lynham said.

The friend went to the bathroom and saw blood covering the victim, walls and floor.