Tweed City Shopping Centre axe attacker Warren Williams, 23, faces court on string of family violence charges
A Tweed thug who struck a man in the face with an axe at a busy shopping centre brutally bashed his partner with a metal torch, it has been revealed. Here’s what we know.
Police & Courts
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A Tweed thug who pleaded guilty to hitting a man in the face with an axe at a busy shopping centre brutally bashed his partner over the head with a metal torch, a court has been told.
Warren Williams, 23, has been facing Tweed Heads Local Court in recent weeks on a string of serious charges including reckless wounding in company, assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault and contravening an apprehended violence order (AVO).
Police describe Williams in court documents as a “repeat violent DV offender” with a “serious history of assaults against women, including using intimidation and threat tactics and damaging property”.
“Williams has been charged five times in the past year with DV offences and it is clear he is becoming more reckless with age and possesses further risk to (his partner) … and the general public,” police state.
On May 21, Williams’ partner was suffering from a migraine and asked him to help with something. He refused and an argument took place, the court was told.
“Williams then returned to the room with a large metal object, understood to be a torch, and struck the mother on the leg, hand and back of the head … ,” police state.
“He (Williams) then repeatedly bashed the mother over the head with the torch three more times, causing significant bleeding.
“She then dialled triple-0 as Williams fled the scene. Police arrived at the premises to find blood on the floor in the hallway ... ”.
The victim was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital where she was treated with stitches.
Williams was arrested the following day and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault and contravening an AVO. He has pleaded guilty to all charges.
Williams had been intermittently staying with his mother despite AVO conditions, police continue. He is part of a youth gang – the East Coast Brotherhood (ECB), it is understood.
Williams is also accused of one unrelated further count of assault occasioning bodily harm alleged to have occurred late last year.
While in custody, he was charged with reckless wounding in company after striking a man in the face with a tomahawk or small axe at Tweed City Shopping Centre at 3.30pm on July 11.
Tweed-Byron Police District officers attended and horrified witnesses reported a large group had become involved in a brawl. A 25-year-old man was slashed across the face with a tomahawk or hatchet and suffered serious injuries.
He was treated for facial injuries at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Gold Coast University Hospital for further treatment. He has since been released from hospital.
Williams pleaded guilty to his involvement in the attack on August 5. He remains in custody and bail has been refused.
He has been liaising with legal representatives ahead of a scheduled sentencing hearing at Tweed Heads Local Court on October 2
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