WA: Second man charged over fatal Christmas bashing

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2007
WA: Second man charged over fatal Christmas bashing

PERTH, Dec 29 AAP - A second man has been charged over a bashing on Christmas Day north
of Perth that left one man dead and his daughter's fiance seriously injured.

Sheep farmer William John Rowe, 49, died in hospital on Boxing Day after his family
was allegedly attacked by a group of about 25 people as they played cricket at Sunset
Beach in Geraldton.

Luke Neil, 29, who had become engaged to one of Mr Rowe's two daughters just three
hours earlier, was allegedly slashed in the face with a broken bottle and had his jaw
and collarbone broken.

Police said a 43-year-old man was charged yesterday with common assault on Mr Neil
but clarified that Mr Neil sustained his serious injuries from a later altercation with
another person.

The man was released on bail and is due to appear at Geraldton Magistrates Court on January 3.

Mathew Roy McDonald, 21, of no fixed address, appeared in the court on Thursday charged
with grievous bodily harm.

He was remanded in custody until January 17 while he seeks legal advice.

Police have said the charges could be upgraded to manslaughter or murder pending the
outcome of an autopsy.

McDonald's uncle Lindsay Councillor has again expressed the family's condolences.

"This matter is now in the hands of the police and the courts and we ask that people
please allow this matter to go through the correct procedures," he said in a statement
issued through the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA today.

AAP ig/cjh/mn

KEYWORD: BRAWL NIGHTLEAD

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