Bruce Jones denied bail after man found dead at Coffs Harbour unit block

A father-of-two has been accused of assaulting man at a Coffs Coast pub days before he was found dead at a unit block.

A man was found dead at a Korff St unit block following an alleged altercation at the Plantation Hotel in Coffs Harbour. Photo: Tim Jarrett

More details have emerged in court on the death of a man who was allegedly involved in an altercation at a Coffs Coast pub on Saturday night.

Father-of-two Bruce Jones appeared in the glass dock at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the 53-year-old alleged victim was found dead at a Korff St unit block on Monday.

Jones is alleged to have got into an altercation with the deceased at the Plantation Hotel on Grafton St, grabbing his shirt before allegedly pushing him and causing him to fall down stairs and hit his head on a concrete garden bed.

After laying motionless on the ground, the court heard the deceased was assisted by witnesses and left the premises with a gash and bruising on his head.

Emergency services were called to the unit block days later, where the man was pronounced dead and a police investigation began.

A man was found dead at a Korff St unit block following an alleged altercation at the Plantation Hotel in Coffs Harbour. Photo: Tim Jarrett

The prosecution had argued for Jones to be refused bail, telling the court Jones’ case was pending more serious charges following findings from an autopsy.

They argued the case against him was “extremely strong”, bolstered by security camera footage of the entire incident. They also told the court they held concerns that Jones had a history of missing court appearances.

At the time of the alleged offence the court heard Jones had been living at the Plantation Hotel, and the prosecution therefore argued the prospect of him “interfering” with witnesses was high if he was refused bail. They said he had already been speaking to potential witnesses about the incident prior to his arrest.

While conceding Jones’ poor record of failing to appear, the defence said he could be granted bail under strict conditions, including that he report to police daily and live with his mother in Nana Glen under an 8pm to 6am curfew.

The defence added that Jones needed to work, particularly as his son with cerebral palsy, and had expressed a desire to “stay out of trouble”.

They told Magistrate Ian Rodgers that Jones needed bail to prepare his legal defence, suggesting issues of intoxication and “self-defence” were involved.

Magistrate Rodgers however denied Jones bail, citing the concern that any conditions “couldn’t mitigate the risks” of Jones failing to appear or contacting witnesses to the alleged offence.

Noting Jones’ “extensive” – though largely nonviolent – history, Mr Rodgers said it was inevitable he would face a full time custodial sentence if he was convicted.

Jones will reappear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on April 27.