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Subscriber only A man who choked his mother s boyfriend during a house-moving dispute took self-defence too far, a court has heard. Jae Flevell, 30, had earlier pleaded guilty to intentionally choking a person without consent. A second charge of common assault was formally withdrawn when he faced Byron Bay Local Court for sentencing on Monday. Flevell was living with his mother in Ocean Shores when a dispute over house-moving responsibilities broke out on October 25. They were due to move out the following day. The court heard Flevell believed he had dealt with his responsibilities in relation to preparing for the move and felt things were going smoothly .
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Subscriber only A BANGALOW man facing numerous drug allegations will have his case return to court in the new year. Jared Nicholas Bale, 45, is currently bail refused and was not required to appear by video link when his case was mentioned before Byron Bay Local Court on Monday. Mr Bale is yet to enter formal pleas to the 14 charges against him, which include various allegations of drug possession and supply. The most serious charge he is facing relates to the alleged supply of a commercial amount of cocaine, involving about 325 grams of the drug. All the charges, which also relate to cannabis, MDMA and other drugs, relate to October 28 this year.
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Subscriber only A NORTHERN Rivers man charged with breaching a public health order will contest the allegation against him in a hearing next year. Byangum man Shay McRae, 45, had earlier pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a Public Health Order. But when he faced Byron Bay Local Court on Monday this charge was withdrawn and replaced with an allegation of failing to comply with a requirement of the Public Health COVID-19 directions by being in an unlawful assembly of more than 20 people. Mr McRae has now pleaded not guilty to this new allegation, which relates to the same alleged act but falls under a different section of the Public Health Act.
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Subscriber only A POLICE officer who was facing serious traffic charges has been dealt with under the Mental Health Act. The Northern NSW officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been charged with driving recklessly, furiously or at a speed or manner dangerous, negligent driving and driving more than 45km/h above the speed limit after being involved in a highway pursuit in the state s north earlier this year. The case went before Byron Bay Local Court this week and the officer s charges were dismissed under section 32 of the Mental Health Act. The officer was discharged into the care of a responsible person on a range of conditions, including that they comply with treatment plan as directed by various professionals and take all medication as prescribed.
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Subscriber only TWO Ballina brothers charged over an alleged stabbing assault in Byron Bay will return to court in the new year. Tory John Martin-Manton, 24 and Jarett Martin-Manton, 25, are each charged with affray and causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent. They were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, September 20 this year after an alleged fight in Apex Park in Byron Bay. Police will allege Jarett Martin-Manton wielded broken glass while his brother had a broken Jack Daniels bottle during the incident. Apex Park in Byron Bay, where police will allege the assault took place. Picture: Liana Boss