Another Tragedy!

[redemption]

While Hopoate has not been charged **in relation to this individual** - this is a terrible tragedy for a family and yet another black-eye for rugby league in the media courtesy of John!! I cannot say anything more for legal reasons!

–----------------------------------------

From today's Telegraph:

THE FAMILY of a man bashed during a row with bouncers - including former rugby league star John Hopoate - in Kings Cross made the heartbreaking decision last night to turn off his life support.

Wilson Duque's parents made the emotional journey from Colombia to comfort his wife Raquel and visit their son's bedside in St Vincent's Hospital where he has been fighting for life since the alleged attack on December 18.

Hopoate, 36, will face court next week charged with affray and assaulting Wilson's younger brother Wilmer, 27, after allegedly refusing him entry to John Ibrahim's Trademark Hotel and chasing him along Darlinghurst Rd.

Wilson, 33, a house painter, who had celebrated his fifth wedding anniversary with Raquel and their four-month-old son Dylan the night before the tragedy, suffered brain damage but no one has been charged with his assault.

 

[AndTheKungFoSing]

What a grub… he chased him down? wtf

 

[Snowy]

Just proves what a tool he is. I feel for the family, I hope John gets the book thrown at him!

 

[Yossarian]

He chased his brother not the man who died. Hopoate may have a case to answer but before all the facts are at hand I'd be reluctant to make any comment on his actions.

 

[Geo]

I ask everyone to act cautiously in what they say on this…....

When death is involved the court process must be adhered too...

Cheers

 

[Fraze23]

That is a real tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

 

[LukeH]

The thing that bothers me about this tragedy is the picture the day after of Hopoate smiling smugly as he was released from the cells. And to read in the paper that his title is "responsible service of alcohol officer"…....hmmmmm

 

[AndTheKungFoSing]

He chased his brother not the man who died. Hopoate may have a case to answer but before all the facts are at hand I'd be reluctant to make any comment on his actions.

I know that… the point I am making is that he chased someone. He is there to secure the property he is paid to secure... not chase someone who has left or in the process of leaving! That is just hot-headed and agro!

 

[redemption]

The thing that bothers me about this tragedy is the picture the day after of Hopoate smiling smugly as he was released from the cells. And to read in the paper that his title is "responsible service of alcohol officer"…....hmmmmm

There are questions (previously raised in the media) over whether Hoppa holds the mandated qualifications/licenses to have been employed in a RSOA/Security capacity!

These issues will come out in court…

 

[king_sirro]

He chased his brother not the man who died. Hopoate may have a case to answer but before all the facts are at hand I'd be reluctant to make any comment on his actions.

I know that… the point I am making is that he chased someone. He is there to secure the property he is paid to secure... not chase someone who has left or in the process of leaving! That is just hot-headed and agro!

Sometimes papers can dress things up a little to glorify things. When they say "chase", they may mean he approached the borther in support of his fellow bouncer, but "chase" sounds better. Now im not saying thats the case here, he may have chased him down the street for all i know, and if he has, i hope he goes down big for it, but maybe its a case of the journo trying to glorify the story a little. We dont know yet.

 

[redemption]

He chased his brother not the man who died. Hopoate may have a case to answer but before all the facts are at hand I'd be reluctant to make any comment on his actions.

I know that… the point I am making is that he chased someone. He is there to secure the property he is paid to secure... not chase someone who has left or in the process of leaving! That is just hot-headed and agro!

Sometimes papers can dress things up a little to glorify things. When they say "chase", they may mean he approached the borther in support of his fellow bouncer, but "chase" sounds better. Now im not saying thats the case here, he may have chased him down the street for all i know, and if he has, i hope he goes down big for it, but maybe its a case of the journo trying to glorify the story a little. We dont know yet.

KS - Under the current charge against Hopoate - it is the police who have alleged that he & fellow bouncers "chased" the party from the Trademark to where the assault(s) occurred (at Darlingurst Road 50 metres away)!

–-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is from ABC News on-line from December 19:

Former rugby league player John Hopoate has been charged with assaulting a man while working as a bouncer in Sydney.

Hopoate, 36, was working outside the Trademark Hotel on Bayswater Road in Kings Cross when he refused entry to three men around 11:00pm on Saturday.

**Police say one the men allegedly threatened security staff and bouncers chased the men along Bayswater Road to Darlinghurst Road where a fight broke out.**

Hopoate has been charged with assaulting a 27-year-old man.

A 33-year-old male suffered serious head injuries and was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where he underwent surgery and remains in a serious condition.

No one has been charged with his assault.

Hopoate was arrested at 3.05am Sunday morning and taken to Kings Cross Police Station and questioned.

He was later charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and affray and granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on January, 11 2011.

Police say other nightclub staff were assisting with inquiries and further charges were expected to be laid.

Hopoate retired from rugby league in 2005 after his club Manly terminated his contract after a string of controversies.

He then took up boxing but his career has been largely unsuccessful.

 

[king_sirro]

I knew i didnt feel right trying to paint i good light on it for Hoppa. lol….... Nothing worse than bouncers who think they have a right to belt people, why cant they understand there job is to calm situations, not make them worse

 

[stryker]

Did anyone catch the CCTV footage last night on the news?

It painted a very different picture of the "victims" in this fracar. It showed them to seem quite intoxicated, giving grief to passing patrons, threatening the staff with chairs and a paint scraper - effectively a knife, and being refused entry for legitamate reasons.

It obviously didnt show what happened afterwards but there are eyewitness reports that the deceased man suffered his injuries in a fall trying to run away from a fight his mates well and truly started.

It's in stark contrast to how this story was originally reported.

 

[Fraze23]

Did anyone catch the CCTV footage last night on the news?

It painted a very different picture of the "victims" in this fracar. It showed them to seem quite intoxicated, giving grief to passing patrons, threatening the staff with chairs and a paint scraper - effectively a knife, and being refused entry for legitamate reasons.

It obviously didnt show what happened afterwards but there are eyewitness reports that the deceased man suffered his injuries in a fall trying to run away from a fight his mates well and truly started.

It's in stark contrast to how this story was originally reported.

There is always 2 sides to every story. The media are good at picking sides.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Did anyone catch the CCTV footage last night on the news?

It painted a very different picture of the "victims" in this fracar. It showed them to seem quite intoxicated, giving grief to passing patrons, threatening the staff with chairs and a paint scraper - effectively a knife, and being refused entry for legitamate reasons.

It obviously didnt show what happened afterwards but there are eyewitness reports that the deceased man suffered his injuries in a fall trying to run away from a fight his mates well and truly started.

It's in stark contrast to how this story was originally reported.

Stryker, 95% of the time it is this way…. Unfortunately, the media always jump on the "victims story" first. I'm sure you understand that If you poke a stick at the mongrel dog, sooner than later it will bite!

But... there is still that 5% element of Crowd Controllers who go over the top, so until we know both stories, it will be difficult for anyone other than the parties involved to really know what went on... (same as the Dragons Leagues Club incident)

Its a shame this has resulted in such an ugly mess!!!

 

[Marshall_magic]

Did anyone catch the CCTV footage last night on the news?

It painted a very different picture of the "victims" in this fracar. It showed them to seem quite intoxicated, giving grief to passing patrons, threatening the staff with chairs and a paint scraper - effectively a knife, and being refused entry for legitamate reasons.

It obviously didnt show what happened afterwards but there are eyewitness reports that the deceased man suffered his injuries in a fall trying to run away from a fight his mates well and truly started.

It's in stark contrast to how this story was originally reported.

There is always 2 sides to every story. The media are good at picking sides.

The media always jump on the bouncers' anti-bandwagon. Sure a lot of them are meatheads, but I have never seen a bouncer chase people down and belt them for no reason. Sure this is an ugly incident, but straight away it was highly likely that the "victims" were not going to be completely innocent. Bouncers are there to do a job, and if they weren't there then the people who complain about them, would complain about a lack of security.

 

[system]

The problem is any bouncer who chases someone after they have left the premises is breeching their level of authority. It doesn't matter what they yell or how it irritates them the job of a real bouncer is to protect the premises he is working at and the safety of the patrons within that. They had done their job and the people were in the process of moving away after entry was refused. I have been unfortunate enough to see bouncers chasing patrons on several occasions and it is always unwaranted. It is the difference between the drunk leaving who is full of verbal dutch courage and the employee who for whatever reason cannot control his reaction. It's not like there isn't a big enough Police prescence in the Cross to warrant the bouncers taking actions further

Unfortunatley event and venue security are not assessed on capacity to deal with stressful situations.

 

[balmainkings]

Did anyone catch the CCTV footage last night on the news?

It painted a very different picture of the "victims" in this fracar. It showed them to seem quite intoxicated, giving grief to passing patrons, threatening the staff with chairs and a paint scraper - effectively a knife, and being refused entry for legitamate reasons.

It obviously didnt show what happened afterwards but there are eyewitness reports that the deceased man suffered his injuries in a fall trying to run away from a fight his mates well and truly started.

It's in stark contrast to how this story was originally reported.

There is always 2 sides to every story. The media are good at picking sides.

The media always jump on the bouncers' anti-bandwagon. Sure a lot of them are meatheads, but I have never seen a bouncer chase people down and belt them for no reason. Sure this is an ugly incident, but straight away it was highly likely that the "victims" were not going to be completely innocent. Bouncers are there to do a job, and if they weren't there then the people who complain about them, would complain about a lack of security.

There job is not to hunt and kill.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

There job is not to hunt and kill.

Agreed…. But I can openly and honestly say that I have on several occasions unleashed my Door Guys to ensure a group of peanuts move-on/understand they are not welcome... I can also tell about times when I have seen Police parked directly across the street of our venues, and at the moment that a situation 'looks' like it may erupt, the police have pulled-out and driven away... :deadhorse:

Sadly, after 20 years experience in this industry, I can clearly advise that some people only understand physical pain!!!

PS: I would never condone any security personel chasing a peanut down the street though.

 

[reyre2000]

There job is not to hunt and kill.

Agreed…. But I can openly and honestly say that I have on several occasions unleashed my Door Guys to ensure a group of peanuts move-on/understand they are not welcome... I can also tell about times when I have seen Police parked directly across the street of our venues, and at the moment that a situation 'looks' like it may erupt, the police have pulled-out and driven away... :deadhorse:

Sadly, after 20 years experience in this industry, I can clearly advise that some people only understand physical pain!!!

PS: I would never condone any security personel chasing a peanut down the street though.

I understand what you mean Tiger Watto. I've worked in the industry for over a decade from country pubs to bowlos to night clubs to RSL's and have seen many people only get the message to move on after they…...lets say 'had it physically put to them'. Unfortunately the police dont back up the managers/owners and very often even fail to show up to help remove intoxicated or unwanted persons from a premises.

Many times ive had police sit outside whilst a brawl goes on in a pub as they wait for "back-up" to arrive whilst door men and bar staff inside have to handle it all themselves. Lately police only turn up if i threaten (usually on my 4th or 5th call to them as to find out where they are) that my next phone call will be to the media, within 10mins they usually show up!

Also i can honestly say that in all my time in the industry i have never had an incident that was handled incorrectly or even instigated by my door staff without fair reason. 100% of the time my staff have been in the right. Ive had many complaints and threats from unwanted patrons about taking police action but nothing ever comes of these as when they wake up the next day they realise they were in the wrong and a drunk idiot the night before.

My thoughts go out to the family of the man that tragically died, but as someone said on here "there is 2 sides to every story"