Chifley: Off-duty police officer assaulted in cemetery, four arrested

A group of up to 20 people have allegedly been involved in a drunken brawl where an off-duty police officer was injured while he was checking on a woman’s welfare at a cemetery, a court has heard.

Shanika Flick and James Robb outside Surry Hills Police Station on after they allegedly assaulted an off-duty police officer in a cemetery. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A group of up to 20 people have allegedly been involved in a drunken brawl where an off-duty police officer was injured while he was checking on a woman’s welfare at a cemetery, a court has heard.

Four members of the group, including a 16 year old boy, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the violence.

Two women, Shanika Flick and Chrashnia Weldon, aged 19 and 22, and James Charles Robb, 25, were granted bail in Downing Centre and Waverley local courts on Friday, with the teenager also facing court.

Police will allege an off-duty officer was attempting to check on a woman’s welfare when he was approached by two men and three women who began allegedly assaulting him.

Shortly after 4pm on Thursday, emergency services were called to a cemetery on Bunnerong Rd, Chifley after reports of a brawl. Another off-duty officer, who was not injured in the incident, contacted police.

James Robb left Surry Hills Police Station on Friday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Paramedics treated the officer at the scene for facial injuries and he was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital in a stable condition and was later discharged.

Eastern Beaches Police Area Command officers arrested and all were charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company.

Shanika Flick also left the police station on Friday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Weldon was also charged with two counts of assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm while Robb was also charged with hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.

The 16-year-old was also charged with assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.

In Downing Centre Local Court, defence lawyer for Robb and Flick, Felicity Forge submitted the prosecution case against both her clients, who were Aboriginal, was not strong because there were 20 people congregating in the cemetery wearing memorial T-shirts to honour a loved one.

Ms Forge said the police officer could be mistaken about which member of the group assaulted him.

Magistrate Sharon Freund said the alleged brawl was “directly linked to alcohol consumption at the cemetery” and someone was injured.

She accepted the identification of both accused could be an issue but noted there may be CCTV available.

Ms Freund said Robb’s record was “pretty poor” but accepted he needed to be at liberty for his children.

Robb was granted bail to live at his home in Marrickville and will need to report to police three times a week.

Flick must live in Matraville and can only leave her home with her mother, aunt or father.

They both entered pleas of not guilty.

Weldon must live at her home in East Hills, report to police daily and she cannot enter the Chifley area.

All cannot drink alcohol or take illegal drugs, nor can they contact their co-accused.

Weldon’s case was adjourned to September 27 with Robb and Flick’s cases next in court on October 20.