Rodney Stephen Rose shocking admissions to the brutal bashing death of Ballina man Steven Ponton

A homeless disability pensioner has admitted boasting about bashing and kicking a new drinking buddy who had welcomed him into his home for an overnight session before leaving him injured on a couch to die.

Detectives from Ballina Police Station investigated the death. Picture: Savannah Pocock

A homeless Queensland disability pensioner has admitted boasting about bashing and kicking a new drinking buddy who had welcomed him into his home for an overnight session before leaving him injured on a couch to die.

Rodney Stephen Rose, 53, faced a sentence hearing in the NSW Supreme Court in Lismore on Monday after pleading guilty earlier this month to the 2022 manslaughter of Ballina man Steve Hadley Ponton after prosecutors withdrew a murder charge.

Justice Richard Weinstein also heard a harrowing victim impact statement from Mr Pontons’ grieving sister, Cassie, who told the court how her older brother “had been defined by his mistakes but he deserved kindness, compassion and family”.

“Steve was kind, generous, thrifty and had a great sense of humour,” Ms Ponton said.

“He was trusting and welcoming, with a willingness to help and open his home to anyone who needed it.

The man was allegedly found with serious head injuries in Holden Lane, Ballina. Picture: Tessa Flemming

“He had a really good soul.”

Ms Ponton said she would never understand the “senseless” and “grievous act” that Rose had committed against a man he didn’t know.

Lismore Courthouse. Picture: Cathy Adams / The Northern Star

Ms Ponton said Rose “fled like a coward” and left her brother to struggle and seek help alone.

She told the court she was “devastated” she would never be able to “hang out” with her brother.

“I want Steve to know, most of all, that I’m here, I care for him,“ Ms Ponton said.

The court heard Rose had travelled from Cairns to Ballina to stay with a friend in January 2022 but when he could no longer stay there he began sleeping rough.

Holden Lane in Ballina, where Steven Ponton was found by paramedics and rushed to hospital before succumbing to his injuries.

It heard evidence from Rose, who was wearing a prison green t-shirt and pants and was clean shaven, was approached by a stranger on February 4, 2022 who lead him to Mr Ponton’s unit about midnight.

Mr Ponton had welcomed the two inside and started drinking with Rose while the other person slept in a separate room.

Rose said he continued drinking with Mr Ponton overnight.

“I just kept drinking with Steve, on Saturday I went and got more alcohol,” Rose said.

Rose returned with wine and groceries. He resumed drinking while getting something to eat the court heard.

“An argument broke out,” Rose said.

“I turned around and got hit with a bottle, that’s when I think I lost it.

“I hit him (Mr Ponton) a couple of times then I fell over. I got up and poured another drink and he said just f — k off.”

The Crown put to Rose he punched Mr Ponton with several “hard punches” that broke his nose, eye socket and damaged his jaw.

“Hard, hard punches,” the crown said.

“Yes,” Rose said.

Ballina Police Station. Picture: Savannah Pocock

The Crown said Mr Ponton fell to the floor as a direct result of these punches before Rose kicked him.

Rose told the court that Mr Ponton had got up off the ground and went to the couch but didn’t want anyone called for him when asked.

He said the last time he saw Mr Ponton was on the couch where the two men had been sitting and drinking.

The court heard that Rose later told two men, who he was drinking beer and smoking cannabis with, that: “I f--ked some bloke up in his house and shoved a fork in his head. Some flat near a laneway, I’ll probably go to jail.”

“I f--king bashed this c--t, kicked him and stabbed him with a fork. A unit block is going to stink in a couple of days,” Rose also said.

Rose told the court he thought Mr Ponton was “slightly injured but okay” when he left his unit on that Saturday afternoon.

“I remember meeting Steve and liking him,” Rose said.

“I’m so very sorry.”

The court also heard Rose had assaulted another man in South Australia in a “drunken fight” in 2019.

During the sentencing hearing, the court also heard about Rose’s horrifically abusive childhood, which had been full of abuse and prompted Rose to flee from Queensland to Adelaide as a 13-year-old.

A forensic psychologists report revealed Rose fell into a life of illicit drug and alcohol addiction.

Forensic psychologist Dr Emma Hubner diagnosed Rose with multiple mental health issues, including severe drug and alcohol addictions requiring intense intervention and treatment.

She said that Rose overdosed on methadone in 2004 and, due to loss of circulation in his right arm, required surgery to preserve his arm from the consequential dead tissue.

Despite voluntarily admitting himself to rehab in 2017, Rose continued to drink and use drugs.

Rose has been on a disability support pension since 2006, the court heard.

Justice Weinstein sought arguments relating to Rose’s issues of homelessness, addiction and supervision requirements for intensive rehabilitation.

The hearing continues.

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