Elder used tribal stick to assault man

An Aboriginal tribal elder who used a tribal stick to assault an uninitiated man he believed had been disrespectful to him has been given a suspended jail term.

Leon Arthur Colson, 56, from the APY traditional lands in South Australia, pleaded guilty in the District Court to an aggravated count of causing harm with intent in July 2010.

Judge Peter Brebner said Colson was an initiated senior Aboriginal tribal elder who had the authority to administer traditional punishment and uninitiated men must show him respect.

He was drinking at a Port Augusta house when he became involved in an altercation with an uninitiated man leading to another uninitiated man, Shaun, insulting him.

"For cultural reasons Shaun's lack of respect caused you great offence," the judge said.

"You were drunk and you were not thinking straight.

"You then assaulted Shaun because he had been disrespectful to you."

He hit Shaun about the body and poked him in the face with a Wati, a tribal stick.

Another man then used his fists to hit the victim, who had to be treated in hospital for injuries that included a fractured leg.

"He couldn't sleep at night and he feels nervous, fearful and insecure, and he lost his self-confidence as a result of what you did," the judge said.

"You regard yourself as a victim and you think that the courts stand for law and not justice. You are wrong about this."

Colson was a member of the APY Council who had done a lot of good work for his community and had not been in trouble with the law for 10 years, the judge said.

He suspended a two years six months jail term, placing him on a two-year good behaviour bond.