A teenager faced Manly Court this morning over riot and affray charges following a mass brawl at Manly Wharf earlier this month.
Emilio Martinez, 18 of Bonnyrigg Heights in Sydney’s south west, appeared at Manly Local Court today, 29 January, and entered a plea of not guilty to two charges – Affray and Riot.
Police arrested the man following the announcement of a special Strikeforce Crookhaven, launched after Manly Observer revealed statements had not been taken over the January 6 public disturbance.

Witnesses described a brawl of anywhere between 30 to 40 young men that saw one younger teenager targeted and thereafter a local woman who ran in to assist. A number of local diners then held the doors closed against the group to shield the boy who had been ushered inside. The young person remains unidentified. Manly Observer has been presented with numerous rumours as to why the boy was being allegedly set upon, but none has yet to be proven or referenced in court documents. More information should become available as the matter continues before the court.

Martinez is one of three already charged over the incident, with his specific charges claiming he was “one of 12 or more persons present together in a riotous assembly, using and threatening unlawful violence for a common purpose” and “Did use/threaten unlawful violence towards unknown victim by conduct such that a person of reasonable firmness if present at the scene would have feared for their safety”.
Martinez had his conditional bail continued. This includes not entering the Northern Beaches LGA unless to attend court and “be of good behaviour and follow all reasonable requests of his parents”.
Martinez was represented by legal aid solicitor Fiona Haddington, who referenced two other males charged over the same event, foreshadowing there were “many more” to follow.
Martinez will return to court for mention on 26 March 2025.
It follows the arrest of a 20 year old Wyong man, Royce Jensen, at Gosford, who remains in custody and has pleaded guilty to common assault (of the local woman) but not guilty to riot charges. The third boy charged is under 18 and cannot be named for legal reasons.
Jensen will return to court on 18 February 2025.