Hotel bouncer 'fell like a tree' when hit by investment banker who was 'significantly' drunk

Hotel bouncer 'fell like a tree' when hit by investment banker who was 'significantly' drunk ... and is now free on $500k bail, thanks to his family.

33-year-old investment banker with Swiss company UBS punched a hotel bouncer so severely he 'fell like a tree' to the pavement, CCTV footage of the violent incident shown in court reveals.

Moments after James Longworth was refused entry into a Sydney bar, graphic CCTV footage shows him turning back to bouncer Fady Taiba and punching him.

Longworth, who later told police he just gave Mr Taiba 'a tap' and didn't intend hurting him, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but that was not accepted by the prosecution in the Downing Centre Court on Monday.

King hit: Investment banker with UBS, James Longworth, 33, (pictured leaving the Downing Centre Court today) went to Bar 333 on George Street in the city's CBD in September last year, but lashed out when he was denied entry by bouncer, Fady Taiba

 

 

 

 Bar 333 in Sydney's CBD (bottom image), which has now closed, was the scene of a punch by 33-year-old investment banker James Longworth who allegedly hit bouncer Fady Taiba (top image), who fell to the ground and had to undergo brain surgery

 

 Graphic footage: CCTV of Bar 333 shows UBS Investment banker James Longworth (pictured) turning back to bouncer Fady Taiba after he was denied entry for being drunk and punching him. Mr Taiba was in a coma following the attack and underwent emergency surgery

The court heard Longworth, worked for Swiss investment bank, UBS, in the market support division of its Sydney office, went to Bar 333 on George Street in the city's CBD in September last year but was denied entry by Mr Taiba.

In footage shown to the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, Longworth can be seen walking away from Mr Taiba before turning back and punching the security guard.

One witness said Mr Taiba 'fell like a tree' after the blow to the head.

Another told police: 'he looked as though he was knocked down because he didn't put his arms out to try and stop his fall'.

Mr Taiba, then 43, was in a coma following the attack and underwent emergency surgery. The father of four had part of his skull removed to ease bleeding on his brain.

Longworth's barrister Hament Dhanji said his client admitted to punching Mr Taiba but denies intending to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court heard the banker told police that he never intended to hurt Mr Taiba, adding: 'I gave him a tap ... I had no idea it would end like this'.

Mr Dhanji told the court that while it could not be seen in the security footage, Mr Taiba was in fact 'standing on a raised platform or step before falling back a further distance ... adding to the intensity of the fall'.

Mr Dhanji said Longworth had no criminal history and was significantly intoxicated at the time.

The UBS banker also told police after the attack that he never intended to hurt Mr Taiba.

Mr Dhanji is seeking to question witnesses at a committal hearing as to the force of Longworth's punch and whether it rendered the security guard unconscious before his head hit the ground.

But Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman dismissed his application, saying that their accounts were largely consistent with each other and there was no need for them to give evidence at a hearing she set down for October 3.

Longworth was granted bail last year after his family offered to post more than $500,000 surety.