Ballina Couple Get Bail After Unprovoked Assault Charge

A Ballina couple granted bail after appearing before the Bail Division of the Local Court on Monday were charged over an alleged serious assault and affray.

Bethany McTeare, 19, and Corey Haysom, 37, appeared via audio-visual link from custody before Judge L Robinson.

Alleged attack

About 12pm Sunday, Police were called to Crosby Lane, Tintenbar, following reports of an affray.

 At the scene, Police were told a man and woman drove to the property before allegedly assaulting a man known to them.

 During the incident, the woman allegedly struck the man with a baseball bat before entering a vehicle and driving into him.

The man was assessed by Ambulance at the scene for a laceration to his arm and bruising to his back and was not required to be transported to hospital.

During a search of the vehicle, Police attached to Richmond Police District allegedly located and seized a baseball bat and 4.1g cannabis.

McTeare faces five charges: assault occasioning actual bodily harm — a domestic violence-related charge — affray (a public order offence covering violent or threatening conduct that would frighten an onlooker), being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, having custody of an offensive implement in a public place, and causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle.

Haysom faces four charges: assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, having custody of an offensive implement in a public place, and possessing a prohibited drug.

Police opposed bail

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Fish opposed bail for both accused, telling the court it was a unprovoked attack and a strong prosecution case supported by witness statements, CCTV and mobile phone footage, photographs of the alleged victim’s injuries, and a baseball bat located in the accused’s vehicle.

“It’s a strong prosecution case,” Sergeant Fish told the court.

“This is serious offending that has put the victim at significant risk, and bail should be refused.”

Sergeant Fish told the court Haysom’s lengthy criminal history in NSW and Queensland — including firearms, drug and driving-related offences, and previous breaches of court orders — meant he posed an unacceptable risk.

“The court would not be satisfied the accused would comply with bail conditions,” Sergeant Fish said, pointing to his record of breaching apprehended violence orders, outstanding warrants and non-compliance with orders in Queensland.

Defence case for bail

Defence solicitor , Gemma Campagna, appearing for both accused, said each disputed the police version of events and would raise self-defence.

She told the court McTeare has no prior criminal history, had stable accommodation and a stable bail address, and was studying and running her own business.

Campagna said that, given McTeare’s lack of antecedents and her age, there were alternatives to full-time custody available to the court.

Haysom, she said, had also proposed a stable bail address, with the defence raising his personal and family circumstances in support of bail.

Campagna told the court Haysom was willing not to take any drugs or alcohol and to abide by a curfew.

Ballina couple granted bail with strict conditions

The Ballina couple granted bail now face a strict set of conditions imposed by Judge Robinson.

Addressing McTeare, she told her she was here for “some really serious charges” and noted McTeare had never been in trouble before.

She said she was “satisfied that with some conditions there is no unacceptable risk that you won’t comply with your conditions, or that you won’t turn up to court,” but warned her to “comply with those conditions, otherwise you’re going to end up back in custody again.”

She was released on conditions including that she reside at a designated address in the Ballina area, not contact the alleged victim, other prosecution witnesses or her co-accused.

An acceptable person agreed to sign a character acknowledgment for her release.

Magistrate Robinson told Haysom he was here on “serious charges” and had a lengthy criminal history, including violent offending and imprisonment, and more recently firearms offences.

Haysom was granted bail on stricter conditions, including that he must reside at a designated Ballina address, report daily to Ballina Police Station , comply with an alcohol and drug ban with testing on request up to three times a week, and have no contact with the alleged victim, witnesses or his co-accused.

He could not be released until an acceptable person — deemed to be a family member — agreed in writing that they knew him and considered him a responsible person likely to follow his bail conditions.

“It was not a straightforward decision to grant you bail,” Judge Robinson told Haysom, warning that if he breached any of his conditions, “you can probably assume that you will spend quite a considerable period of time in custody.”

The Judge also cautioned both accused against any contact with each other when the matters next come before the court.

Both matters for McTeare and Haysom are listed for mention at Ballina Local Court on August 6.

A person charged with an offence is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.