Sydney multi-millionaire neighbour allegedly threatened race car driver with chainsaw and kicked him in the groin during ‘kung fu’ challenge at Dural
A drinking session between neighboring multi-millionaires led to one threatening the other with a chainsaw and kicking him in the groin during a ‘kung fu’ challenge.
Ruifan Zhao, 31, says he has no memory of the night police allege he threatened his neighbor in the leafy northwest Sydney suburb of Dural.
He told police he blacked out shortly after arriving at V8 Super-Ute driver Gerard Maggs’ home for dinner on Oct. 23, 2022, with a bottle of Japanese whiskey.
But Parramatta Local Court heard on Wednesday that the night degenerated into a series of dangerous challenges Daily telegram reported.
Zhao was later arrested and charged with common assault and threatening Mr Maggs with an Ozito chainsaw with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Ruifan Zhao, 31, says he has no memory of the night police allege he threatened his neighbor Gerard Maggs (pictured) in the leafy suburb of Dural, in Sydney’s northwest.
Police dropped the chainsaw charge after he pleaded guilty to common assault, with magistrate Laurie Robertson sentencing Zhao to an 18-month community corrections order with no conviction recorded.
Zhao’s lawyer Michael Bowe told the court there were “two very drunk men acting like children.”
According to police documents tendered to the court, it was alleged that Mr Maggs invited Zhao over at 6pm, while Zhao drove his new Corvette a few meters across the road to show it off.
The men drank half a bottle of Mr Maggs’ whiskey and then drank the Japanese whiskey Zhao had brought, the court heard.
Zhao grabbed his shirt in the kitchen, the court was told, which his lawyer said was because he “gets hot when he drinks whiskey.”
He “appeared to show his body to the victim by doing poses when Mr Maggs issued a kung fu challenge to see how high his neighbor could kick,” police documents said.
Mr Maggs told Zhao βto kick his hand and then held his hand high and to the side so the suspect could kick.β
But instead of kicking the hand, Zhao “forcefully” kicked Mr Maggs in the groin, causing him to fall to the ground in pain, police said.
The victim then got up and kicked Zhao, who was then removed from the property by Mr Maggs’ family.
Zhao was later arrested and charged with common assault and threatening Mr Maggs with an Ozito chainsaw
Police said Zhao put his hands together and began asking for forgiveness.
He was accused of later coming to the Maggs’ security gate with a 14-inch Ozito chainsaw and asking, “Where’s Gerard?”
According to police documents, he was confronted by Mr Maggs’ son, who said: ‘What the fuck is that, man?’
The men are now reportedly on friendly terms, but do not drink together.