Zye Smith: South Grafton man in custody on remand after alleged domestic violence related offences
A young Clarence previously deemed a “gutless coward” by a magistrate, who landed himself behind bars following two violent assaults, is now facing fresh allegations. Here’s the latest.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A young Clarence Valley man who landed himself behind bars following two violent assaults has been remanded in custody on a slew of fresh allegations.
Zye Smith, 19, did not appear via videolink at Grafton Local Court on Monday. His defence lawyer made no application for bail.
The teen is facing a series of fresh charges, this time related to alleged domestic violence.
Smith has pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault, two counts of intimidation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, being armed with intent and resisting a police officer.
It’s alleged the offending occurred between July 17 and July 30 in South Grafton.
It’s far from the first time the South Grafton man has landed himself behind bars, according to documents tendered to the court.
Smith, aged 18, bashed a pedestrian and kicked him in the head once he fell to the ground on Ryan St, Grafton, last November.
Days later, he broke into a Grafton home and stole four small children’s motorbikes.
When he was sentenced in February for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, being carried in conveyance taken without consent, causing or permitting use of an unregistered vehicle and unlicensed driving, Magistrate Roger Prowse told the court Smith was “a gutless coward” and “an unmitigated thug”. He sentenced Smith to two years in prison.
Smith appealed in March and his sentence was slashed to a 12-month community corrections order.
But, according to the court documents, he was jailed again in April after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Smith and a co-accused were at a carpark outside Hip Pocket Workwear store on Through St, South Grafton when they spotted the victim, a 23-year-old man, who was with three of his friends, about 10pm.
Smith punched the man in the face and the victim fell “and hit his head on a metal pole”.
However, a stint behind bars on remand was once again brief and Smith was soon back in the community.
Smith has entered enter a plea of guilty to a charge of intimidation involving a separate victim.
On July 29, Smith messaged a man who had been “maintaining a sexual relationship” with his girlfriend, the documents state.
Smith wrote to the man: “Yah (sic) gonna get a hidden bud ya wanna watch yah back cause im hunting.”
The other man reported the message to police, who already had Smith in custody.
When questioned, Smith told a police officer the intimidation allegation was “pathetic”.
“Of course I’m gonna threaten him when he’s been sleeping with my missus’, wouldn’t you?” Smith asked the officer.
The policeman said he would not have responded similarly and Smith replied: “Bulls--t, you would do something too.”
“All I said was that he was gonna’ get a hiding and I’m gonna’ send a bloke to hunt him. It’s petty. It’s pathetic,” Smith said.
He did not apply for bail and is due to return to court on September 25.
‘F–k the council’: Man ‘so drunk’ during parking meter rampage
A Byron man vandalised 40 parking meters while screaming “f – k the council” and “good luck getting your money tomorrow” after the introduction of paid spaces at Brunswick Heads.
Builder fighting Ballina siege charges
A North Coast man allegedly armed himself with knives and a golf club during a six-hour siege in which he told tactical police he would not come peacefully and they would have to “shoot him”. Here’s the latest.