business - 2026-06-25

Teen pleads not guilty over alleged Dee Why park assault

Source: manlyobserver.com.au

A Dee Why teenager has pleaded not guilty over an alleged assault at James Meehan Reserve last month that left a 47-year-old man in an induced coma, with the matter now set to continue in Manly Court in August. The case matters locally because the alleged attack took place in a public park in Dee Why and involves claims of a late-night group assault.

A Dee Why teenager has pleaded not guilty over an alleged assault at James Meehan Reserve last month that left a 47-year-old man in an induced coma, with the matter now set to continue in Manly Court in August. The case matters locally because the alleged attack took place in a public park in Dee Why and involves claims of a late-night group assault. Joseph Woodward, 18, appeared by video link from prison before Judge Daniel Reiss in Manly Local Court on 24 June. During that appearance, he entered a not guilty plea to one charge of reckless wounding in company. The charge relates to an alleged assault said to have happened between 10pm and 10.15pm on 29 May 2026 at James Meehan Reserve. According to the fact pack, the incident allegedly involved a number of youths. The 47-year-old man allegedly assaulted in the park was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he was placed in an induced coma. That detail has made the case one of the more serious local matters to come before the court in recent weeks. Woodward also dealt with separate matters in court on 24 June. He pleaded guilty to unrelated charges involving travel in a stolen vehicle that had been taken from Allambie...