Mitchell Joyce has manslaughter charge adjourned to June 2024

The family of Matthew Hayes, who lost his life in an alleged pub fight, may have to wait another four months for closure as the matter gets delayed by four months.

Nicole Strathdee and James Taylor

less than 2 min read

February 7, 2024 - 12:07PM

The family of Matthew Hayes, who lost his life in an alleged pub fight may have to wait another four months for closure as the matter gets further delayed in the court.

Police & Courts

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The family of Matthew Hayes, who lost his life in an alleged Burnett pub altercation on June 20, 2023, may have to wait another four months for closure.

The man accused of his death, Mitchell Joyce, 27, had his manslaughter charge mentioned in the Bundaberg Magistrate Court on Tuesday, February 6.

The matter was adjourned to June 12, 2024 for a committal mention and Mr Joyce is expected to remain in custody until then.

It’s understood no plea’s have been submitted.

The charge arose following an alleged fight outside of the popular Lighthouse Hotel in Burnett Heads on the night of June 20.

Magistrate John McInnes told the court in a bail application following Mr Joyce’s arrest that Mr Hayes had allegedly been behaving “in a way which was causing a disturbance, or in a provocative way” that involved the girlfriend of Mr Joyce’s brother, who was also at the hotel that night.

Mitchell Kieran Joyce has had his manslaughter charge adjourned until June, 2024.

The magistrate summarised the alleged events which ended with Mr Joyce allegedly running at Mr Hayes and shoving him “with force,” causing him to fall to the ground, his head hitting the bitumen driveway at the front of the hotel.

Witnesses 20m away told police they heard Mr Hayes’ head hit the driveway.

Despite returning to a state of semi-consciousness following the fall, and placing himself on an ambulance stretcher, Mr Hayes was later assessed to have received a skull fracture which led to a brain bleed.

Mr Joyce was initially charged with grievous bodily harm following the alleged altercation, a charge which was upgraded on June 24, the day Mr Hayes’ life support was switched off.