October 28, 2013
Eleven people have been charged with a total of 27 offences following an alleged attack on a family seeking refuge at Murgon Police Station on Sunday night.
Four of the charged appeared at a bail hearing in Kingaroy Magistrates Court this afternoon.
Police opposed bail but all four – Charles Riley, Tanya Gorham, Renata Aubrey and Patricia Aubrey – were released from custody on condition they not approach the complainants in the matter, and not enter the South Burnett Regional Council area or Cherbourg Aboriginal Council area.
The charges, which included assault and being found on police premises without a lawful excuse, were adjourned to November 25 at Toogoolawah Magistrates Court.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Bushell told the hearing police had CCTV footage of the incident.
He said the attack was part of an ongoing feud between the groups which had “developed and festered” over time in Brisbane and Cherbourg.
But this was disputed by defence solicitor Alan Korobacz who said the people charged had come to Cherbourg to enjoy a family barbecue and visit the cemetery to mourn at the grave of a family member who died three months ago. He claimed they had been the target of abuse and threats before the incident at Murgon Police Station.
Sgt Bushell said the complainants in the alleged assault were three adults and a 10-year-old boy who had decided to seek shelter at Murgon Police Station after hearing threats against them.
He said the family had flagged down a police car along the way, but as the police were on their way to another job, they directed the carload to drive to Murgon Police Station.
Along the way two carloads of people allegedly started following the first car. One car followed them into the police station car park at the rear of the building while the second drove to the front of Murgon police station.
Sgt Bushell said the carloads of occupants began assaulting the first group.
“The child victim ran away in fear,” he said.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said granting bail always had in inherent risks but there was no evidence the defendants were likely to fail to appear, or posed any threat if they stayed away from the South Burnett.
