Two charged with assault in separate incidents

A man and a woman have been charged with assault after separate violent incidents last week, one in Byron Bay and one in Mullumbimby.

Police say that at about 10.51am on Tuesday January 19 a woman was at a pharmacy in Mullumbimby seeking assistance from the pharmacist. As she walked out of the premises she saw the victim, a male busker playing his electric guitar.

The woman poured a cup of takeaway coffee over the man’s head drenching his clothing and guitar. She said to the man ‘Say goodbye. You should get a blood test I peed in the coffee.’

Police were able to identify the woman and she was subsequently spoken to by police where she admitted the offence. She was issued a Court attendance notice to appear before Mullumbimby Local Court on March 4.

A king hit in Byron

On Saturday a man and woman were standing on the corner of Jonson Street and Bay Street. The accused was verbally abusive and threatening towards the victim, an unrelated male who was walking past with a group of friends.

Police say the accused was trying to pick a fight with the victim who did not become involved at any time. The group tried to move away from the accused who then king hit the victim.

The accused then placed the victim in a headlock and the female began kicking the victim. Passersby were calling out for the accused to stop.

The victim managed to break free and the accused followed attempting to continue to fight with him.

The victim punched the accused twice in self-defence and the accused followed the man swinging punches. The accused then ripped the victim’s shirt off him.

Police arrived shortly after and the accused sighting police did a runner along the footpath.

Police says they engaged in a foot pursuit for about half a kilometre south onto the beach where the man was tackled to the ground and handcuffed. Police say that when they were in the process of placing the accused into the rear of the police truck, he kicked out several times and struck a police officer.

The accused was sprayed with a one second burst of capsicum spray which subdued him enough to allow the cage door to be closed. At the Byron Bay Police Station he was charged with affray and assault police in the execution of their duty.

The entire incident was captured on CCTV and it clearly shows the accused being the sole aggressor during the incident. The accused will appear in Byron Bay Local Court on the February 15.