Joshua Trevor Berrigan charged over death of Nathan McPherson

A young father charged over the death of another man has had his case sent back to court as his legal representatives await a report following the post-mortem of his alleged victim.

Joshua Trevor Berrigan, 23, faced court charged with unlawful striking causing death when he appeared before Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday.

A young father charged over the death of another man after an alleged one-punch incident has had his matter mentioned in court.

Joshua Trevor Berrigan, 23, remains in custody on a charge of unlawful striking causing death following an incident on the Fraser Coast in August 2023, that resulted in the death of Nathan Isaac McPherson, 43, the following day.

Nathan Isaac McPherson, 43, died in the Royal Brisbane Hospital on Sunday, August 20, after he was involved in an altercation near the intersection of Kent and Richmond Streets in Maryborough about 2.30am on Saturday, August 19.

Mr McPherson was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital before being transported to Brisbane with life-threatening injuries, later dying of those injuries.

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Alleged assault victim Nathan McPherson.

Defence lawyer Andrew Bale appeared for Mr Berrigan on Monday and said the matter had been remitted to the court by the Director of Public Prosecutions because there was additional material to come following the post-mortem of Mr McPherson, but he had not followed up as to whether that had come back.

“So the matter did proceed via committal but it has been returned to this court?” Magistrate John Milburn said.

“That’s right, the Director’s office made a determination that they were missing a significant amount of material and accordingly they declined to proceed with the indictment and directed the arresting officer to recharge,” Mr Bale said.

Orders had been made in December 2023 in relation to the provision of a brief of evidence, Mr Bale said.

Medical and pathological evidence was what the court was waiting for, Mr Bale said, but added he had been informed that the pathologist’s report may not be finalised for “some time”.

Mr Berrigan has not entered a plea to the charge.

The matter was adjourned until February 20, 2024.

Originally published as Joshua Trevor Berrigan charged over death of Nathan McPherson