A Dee Why teenager has pleaded not guilty to the serious assault of a local man at James Meehan Reserve earlier this year.
Joseph Woodward, 18, appeared before Manly Local Court via audio visual link from prison today. He is alleged to have been among a number of youths who attacked a 47-year-old local man at James Meehan Reserve, Dee Why, on May 29. The man suffered a brain injury in the attack and was placed in an induced coma at Royal North Shore Hospital.
His feeding tube was removed a few weeks later and he has since returned home, appearing at a recent community safety forum just metres from the assault location, Â to discuss local policing efforts.
Woodward has not applied for bail. He was also set to face a breach charge and sentencing today over unrelated matters, but all matters were adjourned until later in August. The breach relates to an allegation that Woodward was a passenger in a stolen vehicle in March, when stolen debit cards were allegedly used to make transactions at a McDonald’s in Warriewood.
Woodward will remain in custody and will next appear via AVL at Manly Local Court on 26 August.
