Residents rally against bouncer brutality

Bayswater Road in Kings Cross was blocked by a rally of more than 300 people holding a vigil in memory of the death of Wilson Durque Castillo last Friday night.

Protesters gathered at the exact place where Mr Castillo was brutally beaten, sustaining injuries that subsequently led to his death.

A cordon of 15 local police officers surrounded the rally as family and friends of Mr Castillo demanded action from State and local government to make the streets safer.

Mr Castillo was allegedly bashed by a bouncer after being refused entry to nearby Trademark Hotel on December 18 last year.

Wilson’s brother, Wilmer, aged 27, was also allegedly attacked with police pursuing charges against former NRL player and boxer, John Hopoate.

Mr Hopoate appeared at Downing Centre Local Court and pleaded not guilty to the attack last Tuesday. The case continues.

Sister-in-law of Wilson Castillon, Ms Helen Novianti, spoke at the rally calling for an increase in community awareness, tougher penalties for assaults by bouncers and a state government audit of bouncers’ behaviour.

Her group has created a website www.justiceforwilson.com with a Facebook site link to collect the stories and provide support for those “whose lives have been affected by violent acts committed by bouncers within the security industry”.

The crowd observed a minute’s silence as mark of respect for the loss of Wilson’s life.

They chanted “No justice, No peace”, and “Calm down” – an echo of Wilson’s last known words as he was brutally beaten.

Large placards, held by some with candles read “Who killed our son?”, “Bouncers shouldn’t bash”, “Who is to blame for a mother’s grief” and “Justice for Wilson”.

Ms Novanti asked why bouncers don’t provide actual ‘security’ rather than be the perpetrators of violence themselves, and how any civilised community can accept such unprovoked attacks.

There were no incidents during the rally.

Another security guard, Alvin Iqbal, appeared last week in the same court as Hopoate charged with assaulting a patron outside an Oxford Street nightclub.

Mr Iqbal has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm over an altercation with Dayne Wilcock, 33, who was treated in St Vincent’s Hospital for his injuries.

Nobody has yet been charged with the death of Wilson Durque Castillo.

By Simon Black