NSW: Boy, 14, and three others in court over Rosemeadow brawl
09 Jan 2009 1:52 PM
SYDNEY, Jan 9 AAP - Two men and two teenagers have faced court over their alleged involvement in a massive brawl on a Sydney public housing estate when two people were shot.
About 100 people were involved in the flare-up in the south western suburb of Rosemeadow on Monday night.
Police said the violence was sparked by a dispute between two families.
The melee involved knives, baseball bats and at least one firearm with a handful of residents suffering serious injuries.
Two men were shot and at least two youths were stabbed.
The four who faced court on Friday were all from Rosemeadow.
A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with discharging a firearm with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, concealing a serious offence and two counts of affray.
In Campbelltown Children's Court on Friday, Magistrate Paul Mulroney granted the boy bail provided he lives with his grandfather on the NSW Central Coast, complies with a 7pm to 6am curfew and does not contact a number of other alleged participants in the brawl.
"In my view the bail conditions that I fix will make it unlikely that he will commit further serious offences," Mr Mulroney told the court.
The matter was adjourned to February 23 at the same court.
Two Rosemeadow brothers appeared in Campbelltown Local Court in connection with the brawl.
John Whitmore, 26, and Les Whitmore, 23, did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
The older brother is charged with two counts of malicious wounding with intent, while the younger faces the same charges plus two counts of affray.
John Whitmore's solicitor said his client maintained "he is the victim and he shouldn't be in custody".
Magistrate Michael Stoddart adjourned both men's matters to Liverpool Local Court on January 14.
The matter was adjourned to January 30 in the same court.
A 16-year-old boy appeared before Campbelltown Children's court charged with affray.
Magistrate Mulroney conditionally bailed him and adjourned the matter to February 23 at the same court.
A 21-year-old man, Dennis Bell, from the south-western suburb of Claymore, faced the same court on seven charges of common assault and two charges of malicious damage after an alleged incident with the media outside the Campbelltown courthouse on Thursday, after other people had been in court on charges related to Monday's brawl.
Bell's solicitor, Troy Edwards, said his client intended to enter mixed pleas to the charges.
An application for bail was refused.
