Alexander William Upton charged with assault at Sunshine Coast Stadium

A prominent Sunshine Coast lawyer has been charged with assault causing bodily harm following an alleged incident at the Sunshine Coast Stadium. Read what happened in court.

Alexander William Upton has been charged with assault.

A prominent Sunshine Coast lawyer intends to fight a charge of assault causing bodily harm after an alleged incident at a major regional venue.

Alexander William Upton, 31 – a director of Butler McDermott Lawyers in Nambour – did not appear for the mention in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The Warana man was represented by high-profile solicitor Peter Boyce.

Mr Boyce told the Sunshine Coast Daily his instructions were that they would be fighting the charges laid against Mr Upton.

“We’re certainly intending to fight the charge and it will proceed to a committal and then we’ll go from there,” Mr Boyce said.

The alleged incident was not detailed in court but court documents state Mr Upton was charged on December 14, 2022, after the alleged incident on November 12, 2022, at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Butler McDermott's Al Upton. Picture: Contributed

Police prosecutor Rebecca Lambert said she would ask the court, when Mr Upton was next present, that his bail be varied to have no contact with two witnesses of the alleged incident.

“When I was preparing this file yesterday afternoon, it was observed that no contact with witnesses was inadvertently left off the bail that the defendant received,” she said.

“We’d seek to have that bail amended on that first mention date to include two witnesses.”

Mr Boyce said the bail variance was not a practical request regarding one of the witnesses because the witness and Mr Upton both worked at Sunshine Coast law firm Butler McDermott Lawyers.

“It’s impractical to suggest that they have no contact,” he said.

Mr Boyce said there was already a condition on the bail that Mr Upton have no contact with the complainant.

Senior Constable Lambert said police did not ask for the bail variance lightly and the request was to prevent any allegation of collusion between the witness and Mr Upton.

Acting Magistrate Michael Holohan adjourned the matter until January 16 for next mention with a likely discussion on the variation of bail.

Originally published as Alexander William Upton charged with assault at Sunshine Coast Stadium