Newtown, Sydney: Three men slammed for ‘barbaric attack’ on off-duty police officers

Three men have been charged with a “barbaric attack” after sickening footage showed one of them striking an off-duty police officer in the head with a crack that echoed throughout the area.

Danai Deneiderhavsein, 19, Finley Goodwin, 23, and Koby Weaver, 22, were arguing loudly on a busy street in Newtown in Sydney’s inner west on the night of January 22, 2025.

They were described as agitated and aggressive by off-duty police officers Jack Steen and Lachlan Gray, who caught the trio’s attention just before 11pm.

According to the facts of the case, Deneiderhavsein shoulder-shouldered Mr Gray before confronting Goodwin and police officers who tried to de-escalate the situation.

During the ensuing fight, Goodwin punched the haymaker while Deneiderhavsein attacked Mr Gray, knocking him to the ground.

The teen crouched over the officer while continuing to punch him, according to court documents.

The altercation led to a traffic stop when Mr Steen fell into the middle of a busy road during the attack.

In footage captured by a spectator, Weaver can be seen grabbing Goodwin’s shirt as he lay on the road before striking him in the face with excessive force.

In mobile phone footage of the incident shown to Sydney Downing Center Local Court on Friday, a crack can be heard as the officer loses consciousness and hits his head on the road.

As Mr Gray advanced towards his friend to help, the accepted facts state that Goodwin punched him before fleeing the scene with Weaver.

The trio’s lawyers cited their young age, remorse and good behavior since the crime as the reasons for their punishment.

But the prosecutor stressed that they launched an “unprovoked, repeated and quite brutal attack” at random.

The trio acted as a group that repeatedly attacked innocent men. Judge Greg Grogin said the footage proved the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.

“Here we see a barbaric attack on two people,” he said.

The judge found that the officers merely retreated and acted in self-defense throughout the confrontation.

He noted Deneiderhavsein’s letter of apology but later minimized the insults by saying “these things happen in a city”.

The teenager was fined and sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order and 12 months in prison after admitting four charges, including recklessly causing grievous bodily harm in company.

Goodwin appeared relieved when he received identical sentences for two combined assaults occasioning actual bodily harm.

But Weaver was sentenced to two years in prison for recklessly causing grievous bodily harm in the company after Judge Grogin condemned how he crushed Mr Steen’s head without provocation.

“This was an act of cowardice, brutal and unnecessary, and was largely responsible for Mr. Steen’s injuries,” he said.

The police officer was treated for bleeding on the brain, multiple fractures and swelling to his face, after being treated by an off-duty nurse and a member of the public until paramedics arrived.

Mr. Gray suffered two black eyes, lacerations and swelling during the attack.

Judge Grogin said Weaver was reckless and acted like a coward when he later fled the scene.

But he acknowledged the 22-year-old had shown insight into his crime and had received weekly counseling since being released on bail.

“The behavior of these men that day was disgraceful,” Judge Grogin said.

“They came to learn the error of their ways… and have since taken responsibility for their actions.”

Weaver hugged friends and family before being taken into custody.

After his lawyer foreshadowed an appeal, he made an offer for bail, but this offer was rejected.