Martial arts fan on death charge
By Stuart Walsh
October 14, 2003

A YOUNG martial arts exponent facing trial for the kick-boxing murder of a teenager would have known the danger when he struck his victim, the Supreme Court was told in Melbourne today.



The court heard that Ryan Leigh Johns, 20, of Amazon Grove in suburban Rowville, admitted dealing the blow in the car park of the Village Green Hotel, Glen Waverley in the early hours of June 1 last year.

But he maintains he acted in self defence and has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Crown prosecutor Michele Williams said the blow sent 18-year-old Aaron Linskens falling backwards, with his head slamming onto the ground.

Mr Linskens, who suffered massive brain injuries, was taken to hospital where he was operated on.










But his condition deteriorated and two days later his life support was switched off.

Ms Williams told the jury that the accused and the victim – they did not know each other – had gone to the hotel with their friends.

She said the case was not one of revenge, there was no hostility between the two groups and there was no suggestion of a gang attack.

She said fights broke out at around 2am when the 400-500 patrons poured into the car park as the hotel closed.

The accused man was seen to jump onto a car to join in a fight.

Witnesses would say he was acting with "aggression and a willingness to fight".

Ms Williams said that Johns attacked Mr Linskens without warning, pivoting on one foot, spinning round and kicking with the other foot.

She said that Johns was proficient in martial arts, including kick boxing.

She added: "It was no ordinary kick. It was delivered with power and force and he (Johns) knew what he was doing."

It was the Crown's case that Johns was intending to cause serious injury, or was reckless as to whether death or injury occurred.

After the incident, Johns was grabbed by security guards, but he broke free and fled, Ms Williams said.

She said Johns later surrendered himself to the police and told them he had acted in self defence.

The trial, before Justice Geoffrey Nettle, is continuing.

AAP


-Can't believe for a 20 year old guy with so immature mind. Even I have met 7 year old kids more mature in martial art than this guy -

If he got involved in a mass fight then he should go to prison for a very long time.The amount of force used is debatable,the man died through banging his head on the ground.Most kicks to the head don't carry enough force to cause death.

This should be a lesson to everone,only use your skills if your life is threatened.Do not get involved in fights that gratify your ego.Its so easy for someone to go down and bang their head so think twice before starting.Self defence means not getting hurt.It isn't an excuse for combat.So if not getting hurt means walking away,then do it.

Interesting post.

Cheers.

Below is the continuing story of the martial artist on murder charge


Kickboxer killer gets six years
October 28, 2003

A YOUNG Melbourne martial arts exponent was jailed today for six years for the kick-box killing of a teenager.

Supreme Court judge, Justice Geoffrey Nettle, ordered 20-year-old Ryan Leigh Johns to serve a minimum non-parole term of three and a half years.

Johns has already served 16 months in custody.

He originally faced a murder charge, but his trial was stopped when the prosecution agreed to accept his plea of guilty to manslaughter.

The court heard that Johns, of Amazon Grove, suburban Rowville, admitted dealing the spinning kick blow to the head of the victim, 18-year-old Aaron Linskens, in a suburban hotel car park in the early hours of June 1 last year.

Mr Linskens fell backwards striking his head on the ground.

He suffered massive head and brain injuries and died later in hospital.

Johns maintained that he had acted in self defence.

But Justice Nettle said he did not accept the victim had either said or done anything that constituted a threat.

Justice Nettle told Johns: "You took calculated and cowardly advantage of your martial arts skills in order to kick the head of an untrained and unsuspecting victim".

AAP