Gunnedah bashing: Shaun Taylor Fuller, Stephen Francis Partridge and Samual James Hennessy in court, accused of Railway Hotel assault

Shaun Taylor Fuller and Stephen Francis Partridge were excused from appearing in Gunnedah Local Court this week, charged with affray; and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others.

Police claim the pair are alleged to be part of the group that attacked a man in Gunnedah's Railway Hotel on the night of February 27.

Legal Aid lawyer Amanda Gaw appeared to represent Partridge, and Garry Johnston as the defence solicitor for Fuller. Both appeared video video link.

READ ALSO:

The court heard the briefs of evidence in both cases were being prepared, with Ms Gaw receiving the files earlier that morning and Mr Johnston waiting on his.

Both told the court their clients would deny allegations and asked magistrate Peter Thompson for a hearing date to be set.

Mr Johnston said he expected the hearing to take between two and three hours.

Mr Thompson asked if the hearing would involve CCTV footage.

"Debatable," Mr Johnston said. "We'll be arguing no."

Mr Thompson said he understood the issues with the CCTV clearly weren't just procedural, and instead related to the "substantive" matter in the hearing.

He ultimately set a hearing date in early October for co-accused Fuller and Partridge to front court.

A third man charged in connection to the alleged bashing also had his case mentioned in Gunnedah Local Court.

Samual James Hennessy is facing allegations of affray; and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others.

His solicitor told the court the brief of evidence in the case had been served but Hennessy was not yet in a position to enter pleas to the charges levelled against him.

Mr Thompson set another court date for Hennessy in August but asked the solicitor to "earmark" the hearing date set for the two co-accused.

"If you are going to remain in the matter and your client intends to plead not guilty as well," he said.

All three men are on bail and Mr Thompson continued the conditions for the trio.

Police claim a gang attacked a 29-year-old man inside the Railway Hotel on Barber Street, Gunnedah, about 11:30pm on February 27.

The victim was allegedly punched and kicked, causing him to suffer facial injuries, and was taken to Gunnedah hospital for treatment.

Police made two public appeals to help officers identify those wanted for questioning in relation to the alleged assault.

Fuller and Partridge were arrested in Boggabri and Gunnedah in the wake of a public appeal in March.

The matters were adjourned.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: