Young Karratha man Kevin Seelander slammed by Magistrate but spared jail time over one punch attack

A Karratha man who punched another man unconscious and caused several fractures has been slammed by a Pilbara magistrate who said his actions could have resulted in death. Kevin Seelander, 24, was handed a suspended prison sentence in Karratha Magistrate’s Court last month over the one-punch attack from July 14 last year. The court was told the victim, who was not known to Seelander, was outside the Karratha Tavern in Pegs Creek waiting for a taxi when a verbal altercation occurred. The victim then began to walk home along Bayview Road while Seelander got into a black Ford Territory with his friends. The car approached the man and Seelander told him he “picked the wrong town to come to”. Seelander then punched the man in the head, causing him to fall to the ground, hitting his head on a concrete cycle path, breaking his nose and eye socket, and causing cuts and bruising to his head. Seelander’s lawyer Andrew Guy said his client was seeking an apology from the victim, who allegedly called Seelander a name. In sentencing, magistrate Edward De Vries said: “It never ceases to amaze me, when there is so much publicity around it, that mainly men strike other men with so much force they lose consciousness and cause serious injuries, sometimes permanently, and sometimes death. “You are extremely lucky you are in this court and not the Supreme Court for murder.” Mr De Vries said he suspected violence of this nature was a result of television shows and movies. Seelander was sentenced to 12 months prison, suspended for 18 months. Seelander was also fined $400 for breaching his bail in December.