Bloody brawl between two couples in Albury’s CBD

A work trip to the Dederang races ended in a bloody brawl between two couples in Albury’s CBD, forcing police to block off the street.

Katrina Payne and Jackson Slade.

Two couples got into an alcohol-fuelled brawl in Albury’s CBD that ended with a man being hit in the head with a glass bottle and a woman punched in the face, a court has heard.

Ryan McPherson and his partner Kathy êmmins, and Jackson Slade and his partner Katrina Payne appeared in Albury Local Court on Monday.

Court documents revealed the two couples were travelling on a bus back from the Derang races at 5.30pm on March 13 after a work event.

When Emmins noticed Payne was crying after allegedly being verbally abused by her boyfriend, Emmins asked if she was okay.

Slade then turned on Emmins. McPherson spoke to Slade about his behaviour, and Slade told McPherson he was going to fight him when they got off the bus.

When they got off on Townsend St in Albury, about 6.45pm, a “physical altercation” took place between Payne, Slade and Emmins.

McPherson intervened, and Slade punched him, knocking McPherson to the ground.

Emmins came to her partner’s defence by hitting Slade in the head with a glass bottle.

Slade reacted by punching Emmins in the face, causing her facial injuries including a bleeding mouth.

McPherson and other bystanders grabbed Slade and held him to the ground until police arrived.

Slade was arrested and cuffed by police, and was sitting on the ground, when McPherson ran at him, grabbing and pushing him.

When police pulled McPherson off Slade, Emmins, who was being spoken to by police, lunged at Slade, throwing her shoes at him.

The shoes hit a police officer, who then tried to restrain Emmins, she hit the police officer in the arms and chest.

Due to the altercation, police had to block Townsend St off to traffic, with the brawl being witnessed by families who were out to dinner.

All four of the accused were too drunk to be interviewed while in custody.

McPherson and Emmin’s defence solicitor Mark Cronin described the pair as “heroes” coming to the defence of a woman who was being abused.  

“They should be commended for their behaviour in defence of the victim,” Mr Cronin said.

Payne’s defence solicitor Luke Timp said his client and her partner has become intoxicated throughout the day and got into an argument about their relationship status following their recent engagement.  

“At one point he (Slade) did remove her engagement ring which upset Ms Payne,” Mr Timp said.  

He said this is what caused his client to hit Slade when they got off the bus.

Mr Timp said Payne worked as a disability care worker, and was usually a caring person.

“She instructed she was quite ashamed and was remorseful for what occurred that day,” he said.

Magistrate Richard Funston said alcohol appeared to have played a large role in the group’s offending.

But he accepted McPherson and Emmins had had good motives.

“Your motives at the start were good and if you both hadn’t had so much to drink it probably wouldn’t have escalated as it did,” he said.

“What should have been a great day out for everyone at the races turned into a horrible example of public drunkenness.”

McPherson pleaded guilty to common assault and resisting arrest.

Emmins pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and assaulting an officer in execution of duty.

Slade pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, and stalk/intimidate to intend fear or physical harm.

Payne pleaded guilty to assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, common assault, and resisting arrest.

Payne was sentenced to 12 months of good behaviour without conviction.

McPherson and Emmins were sentenced to six months of good behaviour without conviction.

Slade’s sentence was adjourned for six weeks for a sentencing assessment report.

He will return to Albury Local Court for sentence on July 20.