Melbourne Demons star Liam Jurrah hit woman in the head in Alice Springs, court told
Sean Fewster in Alice Springs From: The Advertiser July 23, 2012 7:30PM
AFL star Liam Jurrah struck his cousin and a woman in the head with weapons while leading a town camp invasion, a court has heard.
Witnesses to the alleged March 12 incident say they saw the Melbourne Demons player lead the charge against an "enemy family" , then return with reinforcements to attack again.
Prosecutors said the fighting was sparked by the same dispute that led members of the Yuendumu community to flee to Adelaide in late 2010.
Those tensions were on display at the Alice Springs Magistrates Court today.
Each group, separated by police, shouted at the other on the streets and, inside, complained that their rivals were taking up too many courtroom seats.
Jurrah and his co-accused, Josiah Fry and Christopher Walker, are charged with aggravated counts of causing harm, assault and carrying offensive weapons.
Yesterday, prosecutor Steve Robson said the incident was sparked by the 2010 death of Kumanjayi Watson.
Walker, he said, went to the Little Sisters Town Camp and challenged a pro-Watson group to attack him. "Later, a group returned ... Jurrah and Walker were at the front of it," Mr Robson said.
He said that in the brawl that followed, Jurrah chased one man into a house and cut his arm, then struck another man on the top of the head.
"Jurrah struck (a woman) to the top of her head with a weapon, causing lacerations and bleeding," he said.
Mr Robson said police arrived and the groups scattered, only to return and clash a second time, having "called for reinforcements".
One of those people was Kumanjayi Watson's uncle, Esau, who sided with the Little Sisters residents - including Jurrah's cousin Basil.
Giving evidence, he said he viewed Walker and his supporters as "the enemy", and the groups had fought in the dark.
"Basil was lying on his stomach on the ground ... Liam was near him," Mr Watson said.
"Liam had a weapon, a machete, and he was hitting Basil ... Christopher had an axe and he was pounding it on Basil's legs and head."
Mr Robson said Basil had "sustained 5cm and 7cm wounds right down to the skull (along with) skull and facial fractures".
The hearing before Magistrate David Bamber continues.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/demons-star-liam-jurrah-in-alice-springs-for-hearing-on-assault-and-violence-charges/story-fndv7pj3-1226432167209
Sean Fewster in Alice Springs From: The Advertiser July 23, 2012 7:30PM
AFL star Liam Jurrah struck his cousin and a woman in the head with weapons while leading a town camp invasion, a court has heard.
Witnesses to the alleged March 12 incident say they saw the Melbourne Demons player lead the charge against an "enemy family" , then return with reinforcements to attack again.
Prosecutors said the fighting was sparked by the same dispute that led members of the Yuendumu community to flee to Adelaide in late 2010.
Those tensions were on display at the Alice Springs Magistrates Court today.
Each group, separated by police, shouted at the other on the streets and, inside, complained that their rivals were taking up too many courtroom seats.
Jurrah and his co-accused, Josiah Fry and Christopher Walker, are charged with aggravated counts of causing harm, assault and carrying offensive weapons.
Yesterday, prosecutor Steve Robson said the incident was sparked by the 2010 death of Kumanjayi Watson.
Walker, he said, went to the Little Sisters Town Camp and challenged a pro-Watson group to attack him. "Later, a group returned ... Jurrah and Walker were at the front of it," Mr Robson said.
He said that in the brawl that followed, Jurrah chased one man into a house and cut his arm, then struck another man on the top of the head.
"Jurrah struck (a woman) to the top of her head with a weapon, causing lacerations and bleeding," he said.
Mr Robson said police arrived and the groups scattered, only to return and clash a second time, having "called for reinforcements".
One of those people was Kumanjayi Watson's uncle, Esau, who sided with the Little Sisters residents - including Jurrah's cousin Basil.
Giving evidence, he said he viewed Walker and his supporters as "the enemy", and the groups had fought in the dark.
"Basil was lying on his stomach on the ground ... Liam was near him," Mr Watson said.
"Liam had a weapon, a machete, and he was hitting Basil ... Christopher had an axe and he was pounding it on Basil's legs and head."
Mr Robson said Basil had "sustained 5cm and 7cm wounds right down to the skull (along with) skull and facial fractures".
The hearing before Magistrate David Bamber continues.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/demons-star-liam-jurrah-in-alice-springs-for-hearing-on-assault-and-violence-charges/story-fndv7pj3-1226432167209
