Nicholas Walsh: Charges dismissed after cop car ramming in Murwillumbah pursuit
A man hearing voices who “plunged” into the back of a police car and injured an officer had his charges dismissed in court. Here’s why.
Police & Courts
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A Tweed Shire man hearing voices who “plunged” into the back of a police car and injured an officer had his charges dismissed under mental health grounds, a court has heard.
Nicholas Walsh, 25, successfully appealed his sentence at Lismore District Court on Friday after being convicted for causing bodily harm by misconduct while driving a vehicle, failing to stop and assist after impact causing injury, two counts of police pursuit, driving a stolen car and driving during a disqualification period.
Walsh was previously convicted and sentenced in July to two years jail with a non-parole period of 14 months.
Judge Sarah Hopkins said police began a pursuit which was terminated after Walsh, driving a stolen car, was seen travelling up to 145km/h at South Murwillumbah on April 12.
Police then spotted the car speeding on the wrong side of the road and began a second pursuit, where Walsh travelled up to 80km/h in a 60km/h zone, the court heard.
Walsh “plunged” into the back of a police car and ran into nearby bushland where police were unable to locate him, the court heard.
At court, Walsh was sporting a mullet haircut and donned standard prison greens. He gave evidence stating he was not on medication at the time and was hearing voices.
Walsh said he was now stable on antipsychotic medication and could no longer hear voices, he told the magistrate.
“I believe I did have a problem with meth, but now that I’m taking the antipsychotics I don’t think I do,” he said.
Judge Hopkins said Walsh attended a Tweed mental health facility in 2021. The magistrate took into account a police officer was injured in the pursuit.
“(Walsh) has a very serious mental health condition which has been addressed,” she said.
Judge Hopkins “quashed” the convictions and dismissed the charges under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Act.
Walsh must attend a community mental health team for an intake assessment and take any counselling or medication recommended. He must also not take any illegal drugs.
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