Dee Why teenager, Joseph Woodward, remains in custody today, 15 June, charged with the assault of a 47 year old man at James Meehan Reserve in late May.
The assault, alleged to have involved a number of youth against the older local man, was widely publicised; the brutal assault left the victim in an induced coma at hospital.
The victim, who has been widely known as “Nick”, but whose name is different in court documents viewed by Manly Observer, was in an induced coma at Royal North Shore Hospital following the attack.
His partner has claimed on social media that the assault occurred as the result of asking the young men to turn down the volume as they partied at the Dee Why reserve at about 10pm, Friday May 29.
Joseph Woodward, 18, was arrested at 9pm last night at a unit in Dee Why, only about a block from where the alleged assault occurred. He was not required to appear at court today. He was represented by legal aid who informed Judge Daniel Reiss that no bail would be requested. He will appear for plea mention 24 June 2026, the same day he will be appearing over an unrelated charge.
Asked whether there were other parties in custody over the matter, the police prosecution replied “no”.
The victim’s condition has improved in the last week with police reporting he had his intubation tube removed and the man was now stable.
