Woman main culprit in brawl

A GROUP of Box Ridge residents who were involved in a wild Sunday brawl were charged with affray and granted bail after four days in custody.

A WILD Sunday brawl in the streets of Coraki cut deep into Lismore Local Court time yesterday with a group of Box Ridge residents, charged with affray, being granted bail after four days in custody.

The residents charged at Coraki on March 28 included John Griffiths Randall, 19; Samuel Robinson, 35; and Nahrina Mavis Yuke, 36.

Yuke is charged with being armed with a yellow axe handle with intent to commit an assault and affray. Police documents state she was one of the main instigators.

Randall’s defence lawyer, Jasmine Perry, said her client would likely enter a not guilty plea at the next court date.

Mr Robinson, who appeared in the courtroom sporting a black eye and one hand bandaged, is pleading not guilty to the charges and was ordered to live with his aunt at Malabugilmah village as part of his bail conditions and report to Grafton police once a week.

Another Box Ridge resident, Gordon Kapeen, 32, charged with affray, was also granted bail yesterday afternoon, despite police objections.

Prosecutor Sgt Peter Costin-Neilsen had opposed bail saying Kapeen had been on bail at the time on another matter of violence, including assaulting a police officer and escaping from police custody.

Ms Perry, for Kapeen, said her client was a father of seven and would be pleading not guilty.

Ms Perry argued there had been 20 people involved in the melee and there would be some identification issues raised, although she acknowledged police had CCTV of the brawl.

All matters were adjourned to Casino Local Court.

Box Ridge man Scott Kell, 37, did not apply for bail and remains in custody after being charged with affray – using unlawful violence toward Tyler Williams and Samuel Robinson; and acting together in a group using unlawful violence to cause fear.

Following recent street brawls in Coraki, Casino and Lismore, Richmond Local Area Command Superintendent Bruce Lyons said street fighting on the Northern Rivers was ‘not acceptable’, with police officers told to crack down on offenders.

The fight at Coraki on Sunday, March 28, involved more than 15 people, with police charging nine people with affray.

Police also made arrests in the Casino area following two brawls in the CBD on March 27.

Originally published as Woman main culprit in brawl