Noel Wright: Gulargambone man sent to prison in the 80s for murder has appealed for bail after fresh domestic violence charges

A Gulargambone man sent to prison for murder in 1988 is now facing a string of domestic violence related charges after allegedly drunkenly assaulting his partner. Here’s what happened.

A night drinking Jim Beam’s has turned ugly after a convicted murderer from 1988 allegedly punched his partner in the face and threatened another victim with a knife.

Noel Wright, a 60-year-old Gulargambone man, appeared in Dubbo Local Court after he was arrested late Wednesday night and charged with domestic violence related common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and armed with intent to commit indictable offence.

According to documents tendered to court, Wright and his partner had been drinking on Wednesday night when he allegedly started “throwing objects around the house”.

Noel Wright was granted bail in Dubbo Local Court yesterday.

“[Wright] used his fist to punch [his partner] to the left side of her face which caused immediate pain and swelling to her cheek,” police facts state.

Documents reveal Wright “armed himself” with a butcher’s knife in his kitchen.

He stood two inches away from the other alleged victim, holding a knife to their face and saying “this is how you want me to be”.

The alleged victim started crying and Wright returned the knife back to the drawer.

Wright’s partner left the house with the other alleged victim, and reported the matter to police from a local phone box.

About 10pm, police located the pair on Bourbah Street in Gulargambone, telling them to make their way to the police station, where they provided statements.

At the station, “police observed a lump on the left side of the face of [the partner]”.

Later that night, officers arrested Wright at his property on Munnell Street, and later conveyed him to Gilgandra Police Station and entered him into custody.

On Thursday, the court heard from Wright’s lawyer, Arthur Nguyen, who applied for bail on his client’s behalf.

He revealed Wright’s prior history which included being trialled, convicted and jailed for murder in 1988.

“His last offence was 10 years ago,” Mr Nguyen said.

“It is conceded in his younger years, there have been those acts of violence.”

Mr Nguyen told the court Wright owns the property in Gulargambone and if granted bail he would continue to reside there, away from the alleged victims.

He said Wright has pets at his house that require attention and as a result he would be willing to abstain from alcohol and report everyday to Gulargambone Police Station.

“You are going to be granted bail today,” Magistrate Greg Grogin told Wright.

“The unacceptable risks are going to be mitigated.”

As part of Wright’s release, he must abstain from alcohol and drugs, he cannot go within 20 kilometres of Brewarrina and must report to Gulargambone Police Station every day.

The matter will return to court on November 10.