TWO Chinese tour company drivers were hospitalised after deciding to settle their long-running differences “like men” during a trip to Sovereign Hill, a court has heard.
A blood stained knife was found nearby the fight scene, with one man suffering a gash to his calf and the other facial fractures.
Liming Shan, 50, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury to Fan Lu.
The court heard the fight was the result of an ongoing feud between Shan and Lu, and had included disagreements over work and family matters.
Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Ivan Blomeley told the court that around lunchRtime on November 7 last year the two men, who had been driving different tour buses, got into a verbal argument in the Gold Museum car park.
Acting Sergeant Blomeley said that Lu suffered a deep gash to his right calf, while Shan suffered serious fractures to his face.
Defence lawyer Olivia Harris said her client had a hazy memory of the fight, and was injured quite badly. She said Shan denied ever carrying the knife, was a well respected member of the community and was deeply embarrassed by what had happened.
Magistrate Terry Wilson decided not to convict Shan, but fined him $750.
“Although the other gentleman may have ended up with cuts to his legs, you’ve ended up far worse off in terms of the fight,” he said.
Mr Wilson gave Shan credit for pleading guilty, which he said had saved two days of court time.
He said Shan had made a “very smart decision” to plead guilty.