Djon James Bland appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court for the first time since being charged in connection with an incident at Brisbane Airport where a man was tackled and restrained by fellow pasengers
A man who allegedly caused chaos at Brisbane Airport and had to be restrained by fellow passengers is back behind bars after he was arrested again.
Djon James Bland appeared via video link at Brisbane Magistrates Court at a hearing in connection with the incident, which happened on May 15 at Brisbane Airport’s domestic terminal. The 26-year-old allegedly abused Virgin Australia staff after being told he couldn’t board his next flight at Gate 45. Footage of the incident showed a man, wearing a white T-shirt and a green Lime scooter-style helmet, shouting loudly in the direction of staff as other passengers tried to diffuse the situation.
The man was tackled to the ground by another passenger and restrained until police arrived. Bland was arrested 15 minutes later by an Australian Federal Police officer.
He had initially been granted bail following the incident but appeared via video link from the Capricornia Correctional Centre at his latest hearing.
The court was told he is currently serving a nine-month sentence for an unrelated matter imposed by the Mackay Magistrates Court, news.com.au reports.
During the hearing there was some confusion over the charges against Bland, with the prosecutor explaining that two new charges, public nuisance and assault occasioning bodily harm, would replace the original charges of public nuisance and common assault. Objecting to the charges, Bland told the court that the matter should be dismissed.
“Nice try,” the Magistrate replied. The defendant, who said he had not yet spoken to a lawyer about the matter, was then asked if he had been behaving in prison. “Yeah, I’m the best,” he replied.
Bland was granted bail for the updated charges but will remain in custody for the unrelated matter until his release date on August 23. “Don’t fly – drive down to Brisbane,” the magistrate cheekily told him in a six-word warning.
Bland will next appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 11. Following the incident at Brisbane Airport on May 15, a spokesperson for the airport thanked those who had stepped in to help Virgin staff.
“Brisbane Airport would like to thank passengers who assisted following an incident at the Domestic Terminal near Gate 45,” the spokesperson said. “Passengers help restrained a man along with crew members until Australian Federal Police arrived. There was no delay for travellers or flights.”