William Kershaw, Buff Point: Man charged with assaulting police responding to DV incident
The father of a police officer allegedly assaulted in a violent incident caught on bodycam on the Central Coast has shared an emotional letter about the anxieties of having a son on the frontline. WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO
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In a heartfelt letter, the concerned father of one of the Central Coast police officers, who was allegedly assaulted and injured during an arrest captured in a horrifying video, has expressed his anxieties of being the parent of a police officer.
“While his mum and I are immensely proud of him and the way he conducted himself during the entire ordeal, it’s times like these we could cop him flipping burgers for a living,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham in the letter.
“Parents of police officers would all share the same anxieties that we do.
“Whenever there is any publicised incident those anxieties are magnified ten-fold.
“When that incident involves your own child, well, it’s a real heart-thumper.”
The two senior constables from Tuggerah Lakes Police were responding to a domestic violence incident at Buff Point on Tuesday night when 35-year-old William Kershaw became increasingly violent.
The body worn footage shows Mr Kershaw yelling “I can’t breath” before he kicks one of the officers in the face and grabs hold of the other officer as she screams.
“f**k you, you f**king dickhead. You’re a f**kwit. You want a smash c**t,” he continued to yell.
The father, whose eldest son was one of the police officers involved in the shocking arrest, lashed out in the letter at those who think it’s all right to assault police.
“Attacks on police appear to be sanctioned by some mob-mentality halfwits these days,” he said.
“There is a distinct ugliness to those pathetic non-contributors to a peaceful society and they’re only getting worse.
“Many would like to see mandatory sentencing for assaulting police, ambos, and fireys – throw in healthcare workers as well.
“Come on, legislators, it just needs to happen.
“Be kind, be peaceful and take care of each other.”
The footage shows it took several minutes for both officers to get control of Mr Kershaw before other police arrived to assist and he was taken away and charged.
Police allege Mr Kershaw punched the female senior constable in the face before he grabbed her around the neck. Police further alleged he punched and grabbed the male senior constable on the penis.
He is facing 13 charges including two counts of assaulting police, four counts of resist arrest, intimidate police, intentionally choke, threaten injury to a person with intent to prevent lawful apprehension and sexually touch a person without consent.
He was also charged with common assault domestic related, intentionally or recklessly destroy damage property and affray.
In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Mr Kershaw’s solicitor made an application for release.
She told the court while the footage was concerning, Mr Kershaw had a limited criminal history and acquired a brain injury due to a car accident in 2012, as well as having a mental health condition.
She also argued the video only showed her client had grabbed the senior constables hair as opposed to choking her and offered up strict bail conditions including home detention.
The prosecution opposed bail citing he was facing extremely serious matters and did have an assault of a police officer on his record from 2012.
Magistrate Robert Stone agreed the footage was “very concerning” and showed a significant degree of violence towards the officers.
He told the court there seemed to be a strong case against Mr Kershaw based on the footage shown in court and he wasn’t satisfied imposing bail conditions would mitigate that risk.
The matter was adjourned until later this month at Wyong Local Court.