Murder charges against Joshua Knight, Nicole Mason dropped in death of Ian Pullen
The wife of a New Zealand firefighter allegedly run down and beaten in the Hunter has called for justice as murder charges against his alleged killers were dropped.
Police & Courts
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The wife of a hero firefighter said she was “devastated” two people who police had alleged struck her husband with their vehicle on a Hunter Valley road then returned to beat him had their murder charges dropped.
A lawyer for the Director of Public Prosecutions indicated in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday murder charges against Joshua Knight, 30, and Nicole Mason, 31, would be withdrawn before proceeding to the higher court.
The decision came after an autopsy determined Ian Pullen, 43, would have died from the initial vehicle impact, regardless of whether Knight and Mason had later beaten him.
The father-of-three was found dead on the side of a road at Glenridding, near Singleton, in the early hours of September 29, 2018.
Police allege Knight was driving with two passengers when he accidentally hit Mr Pullen with his Toyota Hilux, and that he and Mason returned to scene minutes later and struck Mr Pullen with an object to ensure he was dead.
Knight now faces a sole count of failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death, while Mason has been charged with attempted murder; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and two counts of concealing a serious indictable offence.
Mr Pullen, a New Zealand firefighter pilot, had been in the country to help battle out-of-control bushfires at the time of his death.
Speaking from their home in Putāruru, his wife Vicki said news the charges had been withdrawn had been another blow for her family.
“I’m devastated the murder charges are being dropped,” she said.
“Nothing is going to bring Ian back.
“The DPP are doing their best to bring justice for Ian and that’s all we can ask for, that (his alleged killers) be held accountable.”
Ms Pullen said the way her husband died was “the part (that) really tears at my heart”.
“Ian didn’t deserve that,”she said.
Ms Pullen said the update had come at the worst possible time, as she was in the thick of “horrendous” treatment for breast cancer after being diagnosed earlier this year.
She said positive memories of her husband helped, as well as knowing their three children carry him with them.
Lilli-Jane Kaye Sales, 22, and Ivy-Jean Ward, 28, were each charged with accessory after the fact to murder in November last year.
Police allege Sales was in the vehicle at the time of the crash and beating, and Ward helped hide the vehicle later on.
The women also had their charges reduced on Wednesday, to two counts each of concealing a serious indictable offence.
Mr Pullen’s death was initially treated as a straight-forward hit-and-run and remained a mystery for two years, until a $350,000 reward prompted an anonymous tip that blew the case open.
Sales’ father, Mark Sales, 47, was also charged with hindering the investigation of a serious indictable offence and concealing a serious indictable offence, with police alleging he helped cover up what his daughter and her friends had done.
He’ll next appear in Muswellbrook Local Court in October.
Former Newcastle City Nomads president Bradley Bowtell, 37, who previously dated Ward, was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence of another person; concealing a serious indictable offence; and hindering the investigation of a serious indictable offence, after he too allegedly diverted police during their investigation.
Bowtell has pleaded not guilty and will face a hearing in Muswellbrook Local Court in September.
Knight, Mason, Sales Jnr and Ward will each return to Newcastle Local Court on September 15.
Strike Force Awabakil, set up to investigate Mr Pullen’s death, remains active and its investigations are ongoing.
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