A young African thug who burst into a Melbourne barber shop and terrorised employees and customers, has been jailed for three months.
Jamali Musa, 20, from Somalia, was sentenced to three months behind bars when he appeared in a Victorian court on Tuesday, the Herald Sun reported.
In CCTV footage from the June 2017 attack at a Footscray barbershop, Musa was seen throwing a chair across the room, while another 15 to 20 men unleashed chaos.
In CCTV footage (pictured) from the June 2017 attack at a Footscray barbershop, Musa was seen throwing a chair across the room, while another 15 to 20 men unleashed chaos
During the frightening brawl, a man was attacked with a hatchet and electric clippers.
The court heard the brawl was the result of a disagreement between Musa and a man he played soccer against, who was a customer at the shop at the time.
The men’s’ target was clobbered with an axe. He was injured so badly he required treatment at the Royal Melbourne Hospital following the violent brawl.
The barbershop owner was also injured.
Musa pleaded guilty to affray, which carried a maximum sentence of two years jail.
Musa’s lawyer told the court his client’s behaviour was ‘completely barbaric’ but asked the magistrate for lenience due to Musa’s immaturity, early plea and chance of rehabilitation.
Jamali Musa, 20, (pictured) from Somalia, was sentenced to three months behind bars
Magistrate Jon Klestadt said he was ‘not concerned with the colour of (Musa’s) skin’ when deciding his sentence.
‘There is a great deal of political capital being made on issues of African gang violence,’ Magistrate Klestadt said according to the Herald Sun.
He said his decision would not be influenced by ‘the smoke being blown into the public by politicians’ when it came to African gangs.
Magistrate Klestadt said he needed to send a message to the community that Musa’s behaviour was unacceptable and would not go unpunished.
There were about 15 people including customers inside the barber shop when the group of men stormed in (CCTV footage pictured)
There were about 15 people including customers inside the barber shop when the group of men stormed in.
The men caused about $12,000 worth of damage to the shop, stole $2,000 worth of equipment and a further $800 cash from the till.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Kevin Taggert said the brawl would have been terrifying for customers.
‘It would have been the most frightening and terrifying day of their lives,’ he said.