Stirling Terrace brawl trial: Witness testifies brothers Anthony and Joel Coyne were “under attack” in melee

A witness to the Stirling Terrace brawl has recounted how brothers Anthony Willis Coyne and Joel Derek Coyne were “under attack” on the night when weapons were used in a violent melee in 2021 as the final parts of evidence were presented on Tuesday. The final witness accounts were heard on day seven of the trial of Anthony Coyne, 29, and Joel Coyne, 33, in Albany District Court. Both men faces 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. The jury heard from Aaron Eades on Tuesday, who was present the night of the CBD fight and is a cousin to the Coyne brothers. It is alleged that Anthony Coyne kicked Paul Hayward in two separate incidences while he was laying on the ground and jumped on his head before producing a knife to cause fear to those around him. Joel Coyne is alleged to have hit Mr Hayward on the head, feet and back and to have taken him to ground with a metal pole. The last witness of the defence was called on Tuesday, with Mr Eades providing a personal experience of his attempts to stop the violent brawl. Giving evidence at the trial while in custody, Mr Eades was asked to provide a recollection of the night by the defence and stated there had been a disagreement at a party prior to the outbreak of violence on Stirling Terrace in the early hours of July 18, 2021. Connor Eades, Walter Krakouer, Joel and Anthony Coyne and members of the Woods family were placed at the scene by Aaron Eades. A maroon car was seen arriving at the scene by Mr Eades, also sighting a white Honda containing Britney Ford, Trymain Maxton, Lincoln Colbung, Paul Hayward and Corey Woods. Mr Eades testified that the two Coyne brothers, along with Russell Wynne, were in the vicinity of the gazebo when they were approached by the party of five who had departed the white Honda. Joel Coyne reportedly used a pole taken from the maroon car to scare the approaching party away. At the urging of Aaron Eades, Joel Coyne then threw the pole in a bush to the side of the road. According to Mr Eades, Lincoln Colbung and members of the Woods family moved back towards the white Honda where Britney Ford produced weapons to the effect of a hammer, machete and chain. “It all broke loose,” Mr Eades said. “The boys were under attack.” Mr Eades attested to the jury that he saw Russell Wynne struck in the back of the head with a machete by Paul Hayward. “Russell Wynne was getting hit with a machete on the ground,” he said. He testified that Anthony and Joel Coyne went to the aid of Mr Wynne after he was run over by the white car driven by Trymain Maxton who has been convicted after being found guilty of driving the car into Mr Wynne. The incident has left Mr Wynne unable to walk or talk. When asked to describe the demeanour witnessed of Paul Hayward, Aaron Eades said, “violence, violence at the highest range”. “He was out to do damage,” Mr Eades said. “He wasn’t out to go drink a beer at the pub, we’ll put it that way.” Undergoing extensive cross-examination by the prosecution, Mr Eades was asked to identify himself and others in imagery from CCTV. Despite playing the CCTV footage a number of times, Mr Eades said he could not identify anyone in the footage. Mr Eades agreed that he recalled Anthony Coyne pulled out a knife and Joel Coyne pulled out a pole at one point in the night, but only to scare away the approaching party. He denied being able to recall witnessing Anthony Coyne jump on Paul Hayward’s head and denied witnessing Russell Wynne attacking Paul Hayward with a machete. Mr Eades also denied being able to recall witnessing Anthony Coyne attacking Paul Hayward with a pole, or Joel Coyne kicking him. At one point under cross-examination, Aaron Eades refused to answer further questions and requested to return to prison stating: “I’ve got nothing else to say.” The jury heard Mr Eades made efforts to calm the brewing fight, saying he “just wanted to keep the peace” and made efforts to stop the fight as he was concerned for everyone’s safety. A last minute change to Anthony Coyne’s defence case cancelled the calling of any witnesses or presenting of any evidence. Closing statements from the prosecution and defence are expected to be heard on Wednesday.