Anthony and Joel Coyne: Jury retires to consider verdict in trial for violent Stirling Terrace brawl

A jury has retired to consider the verdict in the case of two Albany brothers involved in a vicious street brawl. Anthony Willis Coyne, 29, and Joel Derek Coyne, 33, are on trial in the Albany District Court, accused of being involved in the violent fight on Stirling Terrace in 2021 that left two men fighting for their lives. The brothers both face charges of endangering the life, health or safety of a person and being armed or pretending to be armed in a way that may cause fear. After six and a half days of evidence presented to the jury, the State and defence both presented their closing arguments on Wednesday and the jury retired at 11.09am on Thursday to consider a verdict. State prosecutor Edward Fitzpatrick urged the jury to be unemotional and to assess the evidence as is. CCTV footage shows the fight lasting between six and seven minutes, and was described as “confronting and disturbing.” Mr Fitzpatrick said that when a larger group consisting of Paul Hayward, Britney Ford, Corey Woods, Lincoln Colbung, Trymain Maxton approached the two Coyne brothers and Russell Wynne in a historical gazebo — they were initially unarmed. The smaller group, consisting of the two Coyne brothers and Mr Wynne, allegedly pulled their weapons first, triggering the start of the violent brawl. Mr Hayward was described by Mr Fitzpatrick as behaving in a “disgusting, violent horrible manner”, saying he was not simply a victim on the night. Mr Hayward testified that he lost consciousness during the brawl and was unarmed when he was hit using the blunt side of a machete by Mr Wynne. He said Mr Wynne went to town on him with the machete, aiming blows directly toward his throat which he used his hands to stop — suffering lacerations as a result. The attack on Mr Hayward under the gazebo was described as an act that’s “not self-defence, its revenge, it’s settling a score”. “They were in no way defending themselves,” Mr Fitzpatrick said. The closing statements from Joel and Anthony Coyne’s defence lawyers urged the jury to set aside any preconceived notions about the brother’s family name, stating the pair have the right to the presumption of innocence. The defence urged the jury to consider the intent behind the actions and judge the degree of violence that occurred. Anthony Coyne’s defence lawyer Jonathon Davies argued his client had “no intent at all than to ward off and deter” for fear of a future attack, saying the trio had been initially advanced upon by a large group known to them and were outnumbered. It was argued that the response to the “ambush” was a fight or flight response when he was faced with sudden danger. Mr Davies said that despite weapons being found inside the boot of the maroon car, fingerprints and DNA samples were not taken from the weapons. Joel Coyne’s defence lawyer Bruno Illari said the trio were “defending themselves” against the more dangerous and belligerent Mr Hayward who was brandishing a machete. Mr Hayward is due to appear in Perth District Court on October 11 on one charge of with intent to harm, omitted to do any act that it was the person’s duty to do or did any act as a result of which the life, health or safety of any person was or was likely to be endangered. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.