'War of the roses' brawler pumps his fist in the air as he's sentenced over bizarre fight at Rosehill racecourse that saw a teenage childcare worker whack a man with a bunch of flowers
- Matthew Samuel Becker, 32, and Bailey Petrie, 19, were sentenced on Monday
- The two were involved in a 30-person brawl at Rosehill Racecourse in December
- They were given 18 months of community service convictions and a $800 fine
- Becker was seen throwing his fist up in celebration outside the court
Two men charged over a wild racecourse brawl that went viral around the world celebrated outside court after they were sentenced over the bizarre fight.
Matthew Samuel Becker, 32, and Bailey Petrie, 19, appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to one count of affray.
The pair were charged over their involvement in a 30-person scuffle that broke out at Rosehill racecourse in December dubbed 'the war of the roses' after a woman was seen trying to use a bunch of flowers to break it up.
The two were sentenced to 18 months of community service and an $800 fine.
Bailey Petrie (left), Matthew Samuel Becker (centre) and Brandon Thomas Locke-Walker (right) pictured outside Parramatta Local Court last month. Petrie and Becker were given 18 months of community service convictions and a $800 fine
Hayley Luke (right) became the face of the incident for her desperate efforts in coming to the aid of her father Steve (centre) after he was knocked to the ground while trading blows Brandon Walker (left) at Rosehill Racecourse in December
After the hearing, a beaming Becker was seen pumping his fist in the air, apparently celebrating avoiding jail.
He was accompanied by Brandon Thomas Locke-Walker, 22 - also charged in the brawl - who was heard telling him, 'you're a free man, you're a free man,' The Daily Telegraph reported.
Magistrate Robyn Denes acknowledged the men's claims of self defence, but said their actions were 'no different to other alcohol-fuelled violence'.
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Four other men were charged in the fight, including Beau Hollitt, Stephen John Luke, his son Nathan James Luke, and Brandon Thomas Locke-Walker.
Hollitt and Nathan Luke are scheduled to appear in court on February 18.
Extraordinary photographs showing men trading blows at the racecourse made headlines in December thanks largely to the efforts of one woman who tried to use a bunch of red roses to break up the fight.
Security guards watch on, helpless to stop the Rosehill Racecourse brawl that has since been dubbed 'the war of the roses'
Brandon Walker (left) appears to throw a punch at Nathan Luke (right) as shocked patrons standing around watch on
After a court appearance last month, Becker claimed his group of friends were not the ones who initiated the brawl.
'We were staring (at them) and they go: ''What are you staring it?'',' he claimed.
'Then one of the boys said "Well, your missus is hot" and that pretty much started it.'
In the days after the brawl, Mr Luke's wife Sharyn revealed that her family - including her daughter Hayley who was the one wielding the bunch of red roses - had been having an early Christmas celebration when trouble kicked off.
The brawl erupted as thousands of punters left Rosehill Racecourse after a long day of festivities.
A photographer standing nearby took a series of photos as the violent struggle erupted, with security guards seen watching on helpless to stop the scuffle evolving.
By the time police arrived at the Australian Turf Club venue most of those involved had left the racecourse.
Police chased down and boarded the hire bus the the Luke group was in, before issuing court attendance notices to the six men.
