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Distressing stories emerge as 100 people front Northbridge Magistrates Court on Boxing Day

Christmas is typically a time of joy and laughter. A special day spent with family and friends. But sadly, for some, there can be a darker side. The West Australian spent Boxing Day in Northbridge Magistrates Court where almost 100 people appeared on the overnight arrests list facing a shocking array of offences including domestic violence and alleged attacks on police. In the five hours spent in the public gallery, there were explosive — and at times bizarre — outbursts. At one point an alleged offender had to be restrained after being told he would spend another night behind bars. One of the cases heard by Magistrate Michelle Pontifex was a horrific Christmas Day attack allegedly carried out by Munro Axel O’Neil, 22, against his female partner. Police prosecutors alleged Mr O’Neil was at his partner’s parents’ house in Baldivis when he was seen standing over, and punching her. When a neighbour tried to intervene after hearing the violent disturbance, it is alleged Mr O’Neil punched him in the face. The neighbour, who was left with a black eye, told police the accused then said: “I’m going to get her.” Mr O’Neil — who faced five charges including three counts of assault, obstructing police and damaging property — was granted bail with protective conditions. He walked out of court shirtless before asking for directions to the train station. Several others fronted court on domestic violence charges including Augustine Lionel May, who allegedly stole ice-cream from a shop in Fremantle before assaulting his partner on Christmas Eve. Then there was Christopher Graham Angrave, who was refused bail over a disturbing incident on Christmas Day when he allegedly broke into his ex-partner’s house in Mirrabooka. Police say the victim was at home with her son when she discovered Mr Angrave in her kitchen. She activated her duress alarm before trying to hide in a neighbour’s front yard, the court was told. Mr Angrave is then alleged to have “walked up and down the street” looking for her. The police prosecutor said Mr Angrave had took a 10-pack of Jack Daniels and the family dog from the home before he was arrested. He was charged with breaching a family violence restraining order relating to the woman, aggravated home burglary and stealing offences. Meanwhile Krista Lee Slater was accused of damaging the passenger door of a car in Yokine and assaulting a person on Christmas Eve. That same busy night Karen Anne Wynee was thrown into the back of a police car in Sawyers Valley before she allegedly “lunged” out of the vehicle and started to run away. During her alleged meth-fuelled outburst she knocked over a police officer — causing them to hit their head on the ground. When she was caught by police she shoved her fingernails into their arm, causing them to bleed, the court was told. After being granted bail on the three charges, Ms Wynee wasted no time lighting up a cigarette outside court. Moments earlier, she had told the magistrate she was “pretty sure I was under the influence of drugs”. And a woman screamed from the public gallery as Humphrey John Woods got bail. Mr Woods is facing both a possessing a prohibited weapon and obstructing police offences after in incident on Christmas Day in Belmont. Amid the chaos, a duty lawyer for one woman claimed she was too busy to have met her bail reporting requirements because she was “preparing for Christmas”. The lawyer for another man told the court he thought he was “turning into a zombie” in a Fremantle carpark when he was arrested on Christmas. He was charged with disorderly behaviour but avoided more jail time, with Ms Pontifex saying the man had some complex personal circumstances. “Life’s difficult, but it’s not a good look,” she added. In total a chaotic Boxing Day at a packed Northbridge Magistrates Court resulted in the following: But despite a day of court-room drama, one alleged offender did not forget his manners. “Merry Christmas,” he said as he was led back to the cells for another night in custody.

The West Australian exclusiveDistressing stories emerge as 100 people front Northbridge Magistrates Court on Boxing Day

exclusive
Distressing stories emerge as 100 people front Northbridge Magistrates Court on Boxing Day