17 January 2013

Dad, triplets granted bail after brawl in Bankstown

A FATHER and his four children involved in a brawl with police which allegedly included a mother throwing punches, malfunctioning tasers and ``hammer blows to the face'' have been granted bail. 


Five members of the Mehanna family faced court yesterday charged over a fight with at least 13 police on the driveway of their Bankstown home after midnight on Wednesday.

Three police were hospitalised and four others injured in the wild brawl on Ogmore Court.

Police were initially called to the home to investigate a ``domestic dispute'', the court heard.

A sixth family member, the mother, Rafah, 41, was arrested following the fight but was taken to Bankstown Hospital before being ordered to front court on January 13.

The father, Mohamed, 46, and his three 18-year-old triplets _ sons Ali and Hussain, and daughter Zainab _ were granted bail in Parramatta Local Court yesterday.

They are all charged with affray, assaulting police, hindering police and resisting arrest.
Ali was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The four were released after police prosecutors did not oppose them being granted strict conditional bail.
Another child, Adel, 21, was granted $5000 bail after police opposed him being released.

All were ordered to face Bankstown Local Court on January 24.

Police prosecutor Karlo Haralovic told the court that Adel was already on bail for separate charges including drug possession, assaulting and resisting police and had two good behaviour bonds ``hanging over him'' at the time of the incident.

Adel's barrister Greg Heathcote told the court there were ``two sides to the story'' and said there was ``excessive force by police''.

Magistrate John McIntosh granted bail but said police had ``an obligation'' to go to the house once a domestic dispute complaint was made.

``If they don't carry out their duties they will be criticised; if they do carry out their duties they will be criticised,'' Mr McIntosh said.

According to police documents tendered to the court, three of the children yelled at police who arrived at the house: ``f*** off you dogs. We don't need youse. Get the f**** off our property''.

Police entered the house where they saw the mother and the teenage daughter ``yelling at each other'', the fact sheet said.

When more police arrived, Ali allegedly punched one in the eye ``unprovoked'' before he jumped on another officer and drove his head into the ground knocking him out briefly, the fact sheet said.

When more family members joined in, a lengthy brawl broke out where police tasers malfunctioned at least three times, the fact sheet said.

At least 13 officers rushed to the scene and some used ``torch strikes'' and OC spray in an attempt to control the situation, the fact sheet said.

Another officer ``issued two hammer strikes'' to the mother's face after being ``overpowered and repeatedly assaulted'' by the 41-year-old, the fact sheet said.

The family have accused police of being heavy handed in the brawl.

The five spent the night in holding cells at Penrith Police Station before being released yesterday.
Outside court, the family's lawyer Gus Dib said the mother sustained a ``black eye'' during the brawl.
``It's been a long 48 hours for them and they're quite drained and looking forward to coming home,'' Mr Dib said.

news.com.au 3 Jan 2013

Another Trailer Park Trash family, as suggested by many families from within the area.

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