Lyle Wilson in Ipswich court for alleged assault on friend’s mum

A witness hung up the phone mid-evidence after telling an Ipswich court new claims that “no less than six’’ alleged assaults happened during a drunken family dinner.

Lyle Wilson, 26, outside Ipswich Court on November 3, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An Ipswich mum is taking her son’s friend to trial after a drunken family dinner in which one witness alleged “no less than six” assaults took place.

Leichhardt resident Lyle Wilson, 26, pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm on November 2, 2023.

Police allege Mr Wilson assaulted his friend’s mother Marianne Hay on May, 30 this year.

Ms Hay gave evidence that she had known Mr Wilson for many years.

She said Mr Wilson attended a family dinner at her Leichhardt home that evening and at one point found him in her bedroom, causing her to yell at him to leave.

“He’s turned around and picked me up and thrown me on my heater,” she said.

She told the court Mr Wilson had grabbed her by the chest, lifted her off the ground and dropped her on her back on a heater before landing on top of her.

She heard her son’s girlfriend, Skye Welch, yelling “let her go” before someone lifted Mr Wilson off her.

Ms Hay said her doctor wanted to X-ray her because they believed she had broken her ribs but she declined.

She pointed to photos presented in court showing bruises on her body, including to her chest, and what she said were two black eyes.

But police prosecutor Bernard Elmore said there was no allegation Mr Wilson injured her face.

Ms Hay instead claimed her son punched her in the eye earlier that night but she did not press charges against him.

She told the court she was drinking that day and probably used marijuana, before admitting she had previously used marijuana in her bedroom with Mr Wilson.

Defence lawyer Paddy O’Donnell asked why Ms Hay did not attend hospital if she thought her ribs were broken.

“I think I was in shock, I couldn’t move … I think I was in more shock about my son,” she said.

Lyle Wilson, 26, outside Ipswich Court on November 3, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Two police officers told the court Ms Hay appeared to be in pain that night after they were called to the home and she was clutching her ribs when they spoke with her.

They said the ambulance was called but none were unavailable. Ms Hay then said she would go to her doctor instead.

Ms Welch, who is also Mr Wilson’s cousin, gave evidence via telephone.

She said everyone was drunk and that Ms Hay was also under the influence of methamphetamine.

She also claimed multiple additional assaults occurred that night, including an incident in which Ms Hay grabbed Mr Wilson’s girlfriend’s neck.

Ms Welch admitted headbutting the girlfriend later in the evening.

Ms Welch further alleged Ms Hay attacked her own son and Mr Wilson prior to their alleged assaults on her.

She said Mr Wilson had been pushing Ms Hay back off him when they both tripped backwards over the heater.

Sgt Elmore said her account was different to evidence she gave in a statement to police.

He then made an application to declare her a hostile witness, but Ms Welch hung up part way through her testimony to the court.

Magistrate Paul Byrne said he had not read Ms Welch’s witness statement but assumed from Mr Elmore’s reaction that there were disparities in her evidence.

He noted that by Ms Welch’s own account there “weren’t less than six assaults that night”.

But he said the only relevant information to the trial itself was the information concerning Mr Wilson’s alleged assault on Ms Hay.

“They could have beaten each other with frying pans the rest of the night and it’s got nothing to do with me, as cold as that sounds,” he said.

The matter was adjourned to later this year to determine how the court would proceed.