Girlfriend ‘owns up’ to assault of 75-y-o

THE partner of a man accused of bashing a 75-year-old man in his own home has taken the witness stand to say she was responsible for the assault.

Robert Norman Kelly, 31, has pleaded not guilty to burglary and serious assault of a person over 60 arising from the assault of William Blake in his Wilsonton unit on October 15, 2020.

Mr Blake has told Toowoomba District Court that Kelly had burst through his front door and punched him a number of times as he was calling Triple-0, the tape of which was played to the court.

However, on day two of his trial, Kelly’s partner Carrisa Campbell told the court she had punched Mr Blake.

Ms Campbell and Kelly lived in a unit in the same complex at the time.

She said they had argued at the door of Mr Blake’s unit and he had punched her, leaving her with a black eye.

She had then retaliated by punching him a number of times, she told the court.

Mr Blake was treated at hospital for a split lip, cut above his eye and facial bruising after the incident, the court has heard.

However, in cross examination, Crown prosecutor Emily Coley showed a police bodycam photograph of Ms Campbell and Kelly after the incident.

Asked if Ms Campbell could see any injury to her face, she replied: “Not that you can see”.

The court heard Ms Campbell and Kelly had been together for two years and had a child together.

Ms Coley suggested the couple had “concocted” the story to protect Kelly.

“I suggest you’d be willing to do anything for him,” Ms Coley put to her.

“Not go to jail,” Ms Campbell replied.

The trial continues.