From AAP:

Race riot revenge attacker set to walk free
By Katherine Field
March 09, 2007

ONE of four men who badly injured a man in a bashing that followed the Cronulla riot may walk free from jail tomorrow, and the others could be released within weeks.

Wael Tahan, 21, Michael Ceissman, 22, Mahmoud Eid, 20, and Stephen Elmir, 20, were today sentenced to two years’ jail for the assault on the man during revenge attacks after the December 11, 2005 Cronulla riot.

With time already served, Tahan will be eligible for parole tomorrow, Ceissman and Elmir on March 13 and Eid on April 23.

All four had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm for an unprovoked attack on Jake Schofield in the early hours of December 12, 2005 at Cronulla.

Mr Schofield suffered facial injuries and memory loss from a bashing in which he was kicked and punched in the head.

The attack came a day after about 5000 people were involved in a drunken riot at Cronulla beach, during which people of Middle Eastern appearance was chased and bashed.

As the sentence was read out in the New South Wales District Court today, a large group of the offenders’ family and friends cried with relief.

Some yelled “see you tomorrow”.

Mr Schofield, wearing dark sunglasses and a white shirt, was also present in court but left before the sentence was read out.

Judge Brian Donovan said the attack was not the worst of racially motivated attacks.

“The offence involved some motivation of racial hatred or prejudice but it is not at the high end of the scale,” he said.

While taking into account the offenders’ remorse, Judge Donovan said the men had entered the Cronulla area “looking for trouble”.

“The offence involved some planning at least to the extent that … offenders went to the area, with in my view, an expectation there would be violence, and they were prepared for that,” he said.

Judge Donovan also took into account a statement from Mr Schofield, who still suffers from nightmares about the incident.

In sentencing Tahan, Judge Donovan said he was impressed with his genuine remorse.

Judge Donovan referred to a psychiatric report from a specialist in riots, who said that Tahan stood out from others as someone who had accepted responsibility for his actions and held no grudge.

“I agree with Dr Champion … that his remorse is genuine,” Judge Donovan said.

Earlier Tahan, wearing a black suit, gave evidence – the only one of the men to do so.

The court heard Tahan was a promising rugby league player who had hoped to turn professional.

“I feel ashamed of myself for what I have done and I would like to apologise to them in person if I can,” Tahan told the court.

“I am Australian … I am not a racist person, I look at all people the same.”