ACT men Mitchel Barnes, Conor Thurgood, Francesco Tine, Jamie Ward charged over alleged Batemans Bay brawl

A group of young men have denied their involvement in an alleged violent brawl on the South Coast earlier this year, which saw four slapped with a string of serious assault charges.

Conor Thurgood, Mitchel Barnes, Jamie Ward, and Francesco Tine, are all charged with various degrees of assault. Picture: Tom McGann

A group of young men have denied their involvement in an alleged violent brawl on the South Coast earlier this year, which saw four slapped with a string of serious assault charges.

Mitchel Barnes, 20, Conor Thurgood, 21, Francesco Tine, 19, and Jamie Ward, 21, fronted Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, each facing charges of reckless grievous bodily harm, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two counts of common assault.

The ACT and Queanbeyan men all pleaded not guilty to their respective charges on Monday.

Court documents state the alleged brawl occurred on an evening earlier this year in Batemans Bay, but did not state the exact location where the alleged offending occurred.

Police were alerted of the alleged fight and rushed to the scene to arrest Barnes, Thurgood, Tine and Ward.

Francesco Tine leaving Batemans Bay Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann

Conor Thurgood leaving Batemans Bay Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann

They were then charged and granted bail.

Lawyers Samantha Henry, Daniel Turner, and Sarah Higgs said the case was being considered by the DPP.

The four men pleaded not guilty in Batemans Bay Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann

Prosecutor Cory Ware said the case would need to be adjourned to determine whether it would be taken by the DPP.

Magistrate Doug Dick did not oppose the request.

The case returns to Batemans Bay Local Court on July 21, while Barnes, Thurgood, Tine, and Ward all remain on bail.

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