Former bikie Ian McDougall found guilty of Geraldton Hotel stabbing, son Degan found guilty of lesser charge

The former bikie who stabbed a man in the carpark of the Geraldton Hotel has been found guilty and will face “inevitable” jail time, while his son, who assaulted the man as he was being stabbed, was convicted of a lesser charge. Ian Walter McDougall, 43, and his son Degan McDougall, 20, faced a five-day trial this week in front of a District Court jury in Geraldton, in which claims of threats and extortion were exchanged between the victim and the defence. The father and son were charged with intentionally causing grievous bodily harm after an attack on August 26, 2021. The victim, Matthew Justin Coleman, had been attacked by the men in an ambush in which Ian McDougall stabbed Mr Coleman with a knife seven times, while Degan McDougall and their accomplice, Seth Dane Joel Devlin, punched and kicked him. Devlin was also set to face trial, but pleaded guilty before it started. Mr Coleman had a physical altercation with Degan McDougall at the Geraldton Beach Hotel on the evening of the incident, and left to go to the Geraldton Hotel. Degan McDougall had told Mr Coleman he would “get his dad and his mates” to attack Mr Coleman, the victim recalled. Ian McDougall was a member of the Mongols bikie gang, before leaving in 2022 according to his lawyer, Robert Kan. After entering the Geraldton Hotel, Mr Coleman was followed in by Devlin, while Ian McDougall arrived at the location and waited outside the bar with Degan McDougall. Devlin lured Mr Coleman out of the Geraldton Hotel, challenging him to a fight, before Ian and Degan McDougall sprung on him. CCTV showed Ian McDougall, armed with a knife, stab Mr Coleman in the right abdomen while Degan McDougall and Devlin punched him. Mr Coleman attempted to run away, but was pushed over by Degan McDougall in the carpark. Ian McDougall continued stabbing Mr Coleman as he lay on the ground, covering his body with his arms, while Degan McDougall and Devlin hit and kicked him. The group eventually left Mr Coleman, who went into the Geraldton Hotel to seek help. “This is only the beginning, you are a dead man,” could be heard being yelled on CCTV. Mr Coleman was treated for a deep stab wound to the abdomen which could have been fatal, as well as six wounds to his arms. The father and son’s defence lawyers attempted to challenge the credibility of Mr Coleman, presenting screenshots which appeared to show Mr Coleman ask for a deal, or even attempt to extort Degan McDougall with a photo of him breaching bail. Mr Kan also pointed to a Facebook post Mr Coleman made in which he stated McDougall was the victim of mistaken identity, and he would say so in court. Mr Kan also suggested Mr Coleman had consumed alcohol or methamphetamine on the evening of the attack, and claimed he was prone to overexaggerating and misremembering details. “I don’t know how you can trust a single word he says,” Mr Kan remarked. Mr Coleman said he made these actions in response to threats he received from members of the Mongols bikie gang.. Degan McDougall’s lawyer, Hubert Gawley, presented messages Mr Coleman sent after the second day of the trial to the person who provided a number of the screenshots, which Mr Gawley claimed showed Mr Coleman threaten the person and attempt to influence the trial’s proceedings. State prosecutor Jason Chu told the jury that, while Mr Coleman may not have done the right thing, his testimony of the evening did match circumstantial evidence such as CCTV footage. Mr Kan also pointed to the CCTV footage of the attack, which he claimed showed a man who did not have the distinct neck tattoo Ian McDougall had at the time. Mr Gawley argued there was insufficient evidence to prove Degan McDougall was aware his father had a knife, and therefore not enough proof to suggest he intended to cause bodily harm. The jury found Ian McDougall guilty of the original GBH charge. His son was found not guilty of GBH, but was found guilty of an alternative charge, acting with intent to threaten the safety of the victim. Degan McDougall could be seen in tears as he left the court room, as could members of his family, while Mr Gawley was visibly frustrated. Given the severity of the crime and his significant criminal record, Ian McDougall was not granted bail. Judge Julie Wager told McDougall he had been convicted of a serious matter and a term of imprisonment was “inevitable.” Degan McDougall was granted bail and will complete a psychological report before sentencing. Devlin is expected to join the two for sentencing. Sentencing is expected to be carried out on May 23.