NSW: NRL star Greg Bird star granted bail over glassing

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2008
NSW: NRL star Greg Bird star granted bail over glassing

EDS: Note language in 17th par.



SYDNEY, Aug 25 AAP - Rugby League star Greg Bird, accused of glassing his girlfriend
in the face, tried to "pin the offence" on someone else, a Sydney court has heard.

The Cronulla Sharks five-eighth was granted strict conditional bail after facing Sutherland
Local Court charged with assaulting girlfriend Katie Milligan.

Ms Milligan, 24, suffered a fractured eye socket when she allegedly was hit in the
face with a glass yesterday morning at Bird's Cronulla apartment, in Sydney's south.

The court was told police found a broken glass on the bed of the Boorima Place unit.

Bird, a NSW Origin and Kangaroos representative player, today faced a charge of maliciously
inflicting grievous bodily harm on Ms Milligan, who was due to undergo surgery for glass
wounds to her eye.

Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital said Ms Milligan had sought absolute privacy and
it was unable to comment on her condition.

Bird, 24, was granted bail by Magistrate Bev Schurr, who ordered he comply with the
conditions of an interim apprehended violence order (AVO) issued yesterday.

Under the terms of the order, Bird must not make contact with Ms Milligan or any neighbours
who may have heard the alleged attack or witnessed the pair leaving their unit.

Bird spent the night in custody after being refused bail by police, and was released
just before 2pm (AEST) today after an "acceptable person" posted a $5,000 surety.

Prosecutor Acting Sergeant Matt Zalunardo told the court Bird lied to police by alleging
other people were in the apartment at the time of the incident, about 7.30am (AEST) yesterday.

"The accused person ... is actively trying to deceive police by inferring other people
were involved in the matter," Sergeant Zalunardo said.

He said it appeared Bird was trying to "pin the offence" on someone else.

The court was told police were interviewing a male witness, Brent Watson, when he received
a text message from Bird saying: "My manager is helping me sort this shit out".

Sgt Zalunardo said Mr Watson was at Bankstown golf course by 7.15am (AEST) on the day
of the alleged assault.

He also said a neighbour who recognised Bird's voice noted no other male voice in the
unit at the time.

He added that a neighbour looked in Bird's unit and saw it was vacant after Bird and
Ms Milligan left for the hospital.

Police allege that as the pair left the apartment block, Bird told Ms Milligan to "stop
being a f**king idiot", and denied attacking her.

Bird's lawyer Les Nicholls challenged the police facts, saying their informant was
not in court and the alleged victim had yet to give a statement.

"The facts that are before Your Honour are circumstantial," Mr Nicholls said.

He told the court he was twice refused access to the hand-written notes of police who
attended the alleged incident, and added Bird was not a flight risk and had ties to the
community.

"If there is any breach of bail, he could be spending a long time in custody," Ms Schurr said.

Bird and his lawyer left the court without commenting to the waiting media, and got
into a car driven by his manager, Gavin Orr.

The matter was adjourned for mention in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on October
8 - two days after the NRL grand final.

AAP hn/evt/it/cdh

KEYWORD: BIRD COURT LEAD

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