Ronald Charles Canning, 33, accused of trying to murder NSW Police officer by drowning him in Murwillumbah drain
A Queensland man is on trial accused of trying to drown a Tweed cop in a drain. It’s claimed the officer struggled to pull his gun as he “saw darkness” – but the defence says that’s an exaggeration.
Police & Courts
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Police allege a Queensland fugitive now charged with attempted murder held a North Coast police officer under water in a drain until he “saw darkness” and almost died.
It’s alleged Ronald Charles Canning’s frantic tussle with the Tweed Byron Police officer in a Murwillumbah waterway came after he threatened to burn a man’s house down with his grandmother inside, Lismore District Court heard.
The 33-year-old has been on trial in the court before Judge Jonathan Priestley. No jury is involved.
Canning has pleaded not guilty to attempting to drown a person with intent to murder, intentionally choking a person without consent, and intimidation intending fear or harm.
Crown witness Adam Bartlett of Murwillumbah said during the trial which began Monday that Canning and his girlfriend Tanari Clarke went to Loraine Green’s house on the day in question – October 31, 2022.
The couple wanted to stay, but were told to get in their car and “don’t come back”, Mr Bartlett told the court.
He said he heard the pair swearing from across the street and followed them up West End St, Murwillumbah.
Mr Bartlett said a white Subaru was stashed in bushland near a BMX track.
He alleged Canning threatened him: “You wanna go boy, think you’re a big man?”
“Get back inside or I’ll f-king kill you,” it’s alleged Canning said.
Mr Bartlett told the court he returned and gave friend Dylan Clarke his phone to contact police before they got into Mr Clarke’s car to go looking for Ms Clarke.
The court heard Mr Bartlett came across police patrolling on Wentworth St, Murwillumbah and he spoke to an officer.
He claimed he “caught up” with Canning, who threatened to stab him and burn down the house with Ms Green inside.
They told police Canning was wanted on an outstanding Queensland warrant and pointed police in the direction they believed Canning had gone.
Police told the men to wait and drove toward West End St, but Bartlett and Clarke left to “cut them off”.
Sergeant Mark Maxwell received a radio call consistent with a triple-0 report of a couple threatening to stab another man at Murwillumbah, the court was told.
Less than 10 minutes later, he stopped to check on a man and a woman – Canning and his partner – walking along Wentworth St. The officer noticed cuts on the woman’s forearms, the court heard.
“She needs to go to hospital and have those checked out,” Sgt Maxwell told Canning.
Canning replied: “She’ll be right.”
Sgt Maxwell was allegedly given a fake name and refused to provide the woman’s name.
Police confirmed the outstanding warrant and Mr Canning turned and fled, it’s alleged.
The court heard Sgt Maxwell chased Canning into a drain.
Sgt Maxwell said: “Mate you’ve got warrants, don’t do anything stupid.”
The officer got hold of Mr Canning’s ankles and pulled him down, the court heard.
Police allege Mr Canning tried to punch Sgt Maxwell and pushed his head under the waist deep water.
Sgt Maxwell said he “saw darkness” after attempts to draw his gun failed. He alleges he tried to punch Canning as he struggled, but kept missing and swallowed water.
Eventually, he battled to the surface and screamed for help before Canning choked him, it’s alleged.
Mr Bartlett told the court he heard the officer’s screams coming from bushland, yelled to his friend Clarke and ran towards the voice.
He alleged to the court: “I saw Ronald pushing something down, a person. They were in the drain. Their head was below the water.”
Mr Bartlett spoke of “splashing” and “a struggle” and told the court he ran to Canning and yelled: “What the hell are you doing?”.
“ … I punched Ron and the cop came up gasping for air,” he said.
It’s claimed Canning quickly apologised: “I’m sorry – I don’t want to go back to jail.”
More police swooped in to arrest Canning as Mr Bartlett assisted.
Sgt Maxwell was taken to Murwillumbah District Hospital for treatment to water on his lungs.
Medical experts deemed him to have suffered a partial drowning, the court heard.
However, defence barrister Jason Watts said Canning was approached by police who asked him questions when he had not been charged with anything.
Mr Watts said he would be questioning police procedure and proper process at the trial.
He told the court Mr Canning had “no such intent” to murder and statements from Mr Bartlett and Sgt Maxwell were “exaggerated”.
“They exaggerated, misconstrued, misdescribed – a less serious struggle occurred in that drain,” he told the court.
Canning attempted to escape but was pulled back into the drain and a short struggle ensued, not equating to attempted murder by his client, he said.
He said Canning simply wanted to escape and repeatedly apologised to Sgt Maxwell after the struggle.
The trial continues.
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