Ian Palamara: Trial looms for Illawarra man who allegedly punched mother at playground

A man accused of “coward” punching a mother at an Illawarra playground, causing life-altering injuries, is set to fight his serious allegations at a District Court trial in the coming days.

Ian Palamara has pleaded not guilty to reckless wounding, affray. Picture: Facebook

A man accused of “coward” punching a mother at an Illawarra playground, causing life-altering injuries, is set to fight his serious allegations at a District Court trial in the coming days.

Ian Palamara’s Wollongong District Court jury trial is set to commence on Monday, July 7, with the proceedings resulting from allegations he punched an Illawarra mother in the head following a dispute at Integral Energy Park in Dapto on September 17, 2023.

It is alleged the mother confronted a woman who was yelling at her son, when Palamara then ran at the mother before punching her in left eye.

Court documents state the mother was taken to Wollongong Hospital before being transferred to Sydney Eye Hospital with a bleeding retina.

Palamara was arrested on October 30 following investigations.

Ian Palamara’s trial will take place in Wollongong District Court. Picture: Dylan Arvela

He was charged with, and has since pleaded not guilty to reckless wounding and affray.

Bail was granted in Wollongong Local Court the day after his arrest, but was revoked after Palamara breached orders.

He has remained in custody since.

Palamara’s case was mentioned in Wollongong District Court on Tuesday, where his defence barrister confirmed his client’s trial was ready to commence on Monday next week.

He said trial proceedings were expected to run for five days.

Judge William Fitzsimmons confirmed proceedings were ready to commence, adjourning the case for trial empanelling on July 7 in the same court.

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