THE MAN charged with assaulting another man at a Tamworth taxi rank on New Year's Day, and a police officer, before he was cornered by the dog squad, has fronted court for the first time.
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Ryley Douglas Mackay, 24, is on bail for the charges and appeared in Tamworth Local Court on Monday.
Mackay is accused of punching a 41-year-old man, who then suffered bleeding on the brain and was rushed to hospital, in the early hours of January 1 in the Tamworth CBD.
Police officers tracked Mackay to Bridge Street, where he allegedly failed to comply with their requests and capsicum spray was used.
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The 24-year-old allegedly continued to struggle with police and freed himself and ran from the scene, before the dog squad arrested him.
Mackay was charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm - a crime which carries up to 25 years' imprisonment if he's found guilty.
He was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm; common assault; assault police officer in execution of duty; and inmate escape/attempt to escape from lawful custody.
Mackay was granted conditional bail on New Year's Day. Magistrate Julie Soars ordered his bail conditions to continue.
Ms Soars told police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie and Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor Rachael Barwick that a brief of evidence must be served by late-March. Mackay's case is set to go back before the court in April.
It's the police case that a 41-year-old man and a 50-year-old man were waiting at a Brisbane Street taxi rank for a lift when they were confronted by Mackay.
An argument broke out and Mackay, from Oxley Vale, is alleged to have punched the 50-year-old.
He then allegedly turned on the 41-year-old man and punched him. The man fell backwards and hit his head on a wooden bench seat, and was immediately knocked unconscious.
The 50-year-old was treated for minor injuries at the scene by paramedics and also taken to Tamworth hospital.
Before he was taken to Tamworth police station, Mackay was also treated in Tamworth hospital after his arrest, for puncture wounds to his leg, which he suffered in the arrest.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
