Alleged ‘coward punch’ attacker ‘s 100m rule

An alleged “coward punch” attacker accused of putting a 20-year-old man in hospital with life-threatening injuries has been released to his family as his case moves through courts, but he will be shackled by a strict 100m rule separating him from nine people.

The South Australian Supreme Court granted Craig Sansbury-Weetra home detention bail on Friday following an extensive review of his suitability for release.

Mr Sansbury-Weetra was taken into custody following an alleged early morning assault on Adelaide’s Hindley St on August 11.

CCTV footage of the attack appears to show Mr Sansbury-Weetra running up to the alleged victim Jordan Dodd, 20, and punching him in the head from behind, before continuing with a furious assault.

Mr Dodd suffered critical injuries in the attack.

In emotional scenes outside an earlier court appearance, Mr Dodd’s mother broke down in tears, crying, “That’s my son.”

Mr Dodd’s sister Jaymia said the young man was receiving treatment in hospital.

“He is doing really well,” she said.

“They are doing everything that they can to try and make him Jordan again.”

The police have charged Mr Sansbury-Weetra with cause serious harm with intent.

The 23-year-old father of two has not entered his plea.

Prosecutors opposed bail for Mr Sansbury-Weetra, citing the strength of their case against him and the risk of him absconding.

Mr Sansbury-Weetra’s defence argued that he had no prior convictions, held down a job and provided for his family and would be willing to abide by any conditions set by the courts.

The court was told there was also contention about whether a suitable bail address could be found for Mr Sansbury-Weetra, with a proposed Greenacres address subject to noise and nuisance complaints and a second Gulfview Heights address allegedly linked to an outlaw bikie gang.

Justice Ben Doyle, speaking on Thursday, allowed Mr Sansbury-Weetra to leave remand and live at the Greenacres address but applied a raft of restrictions on his release.

Mr Sansbury-Weetra is prohibited from going within 100m of nine people, including the alleged victim, connected to the case.

He will be supervised by Department of Corrections officers and will be fitted with an electronic bracelet.

He is also blocked from leaving South Australia.

Mr Sansbury-Weetra will next appear in court in November.