Fever Nightclub bartender Jonathan Schwenke has confessed to helping his friend Christian Nau brutally bash three men in two separate, alcohol-fuelled attacks in the Wollongong CBD last September.
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The two mates had been celebrating a friend’s birthday at Fever on September 16 and were leaving the club around 5 o’clock the next morning when they were racially abused by two men.
Schwenke, 21, who is of Samoan descent, and Nau, 23, who is part-Maori, told police the men had been taunting them most of the night, however Schwenke said he “snapped” when they called the pair “black bitches”.
He and Nau punched and kicked the victims until one fell to the ground motionless. Nau then kicked the unconscious man twice in the head.
The pair left the scene and walked to the Crown Street Mall, where they came across another man, who would become their third victim, sitting on the Church Street steps.
CCTV footage of the incident showed brief communication between the trio before Nau walked behind the victim and kicked him in the head. Schwenke and Nau then set upon the man, punching, kicking and stomping on his skull until he too fell unconscious.
The pair left the victim lying on the ground and made their way to Keira Street, where they are arrested over the first bashing.
Police were unaware of the second attack at the time, and Schwenke and Nau were released on police bail later that morning.
Meantime, officers identified Schwenke and Nau as the attackers in the second assault after reviewing CCTV footage.
The pair was arrested at Fever that night.
Court documents said the third victim received the most serious injuries of the trio, requiring him to spend four days in hospital.
Schwenke and Nau pleaded guilty to affray and assault charges on Tuesday.
A sentencing options report will be prepared for the pair ahead of their next court appearance in March.