Jeremiah Chandler refused bail over alleged Nyngan glassing

A teenager accused of stabbing a man in the face with a glass bottle after an 18th birthday party could have been provoked earlier, a court has heard.

Ryan Young

2 min read

March 8, 2021 - 8:02PM

The Dubbo News

Dubbo News

Don't miss out on the headlines from Dubbo News. Followed categories will be added to My News.

A Dubbo teenager accused of glassing a man after a birthday party in Nyngan has wept in court after a magistrate refused his application for bail.

Police charged Jeremiah Chander, 19, with one count of reckless wounding in company after he allegedly used a glass bottle to hit a 33-year-old man in the face near the Nyngan Showground at about 2.30am on February 28.

Dubbo man Jeremiah Chandler has faced court charged with reckless wounding in company after he allegedly glassed a man in Nyngan. Picture: Facebook/Dubbo Landscaping

During a bail hearing at Dubbo Local Court on Monday, police prosecutor Sergeant Adam Corrigan said Mr Chandler allegedly incited an attack on the man who was walking home after he attended an 18th birthday party.

Sergeant Corrigan said after Mr Chandler allegedly used a glass bottle to hit the man in the face, a group of up to 15 other people started to assault the man.

The court heard the alleged assault was recorded and people could be heard cheering as violence erupted.

The man who was attacked was taken to Dubbo Base Hospital to have cuts to his face and a deep wound to his left rib cage treated. He is understood to be recovering from the injuries.

Defence lawyer Jacky Dougan-Jones told the court there was doubt about whether or not provocation was a factor which led to the assault.

She said it had been suggested that the man who was assaulted had allegedly assaulted other people in the hours before he was targeted.

After Mr Chandler allegedly glassed the man, police said he was stabbed in the abdomen, however Ms Dougan-Jones said “the stabbing wound cannot be attributed to Mr Chandler”.

“This is a young man who is heavily supported in the Dubbo community,” she said.

“There’s no history of violence, there’s nothing to indicate Mr Chandler would not comply with his bail conditions.”

Dubbo Local Court. Picture: Jedd Manning

Ms Dougan-Jones said she had instructions to plead not guilty and that Mr Chandler would abide by a curfew and his mother could provide a $10,000 surety if bail was granted.

“He would like to do the MERIT program (which offers people help with any underlying drug problem they may have),” Ms Dougan-Jones said.

Magistrate Brian van Zuylen told the court letters from Mr Chandler’s mother and employer showed he was regarded as a “polite and down to earth” young man.

“He’s never been in trouble,” Mr van Zuylen said.

“There’s some suggestion the alleged victim assaulted people earlier.

“The case, from the court’s reading of it, seems a very strong one. It’s an extremely serious allegation.”

Mr Chandler, who appeared in court via audiovisual link from jail, wept as Mr van Zuylen indicated he would refuse the bail application.

The case was adjourned to April 21.