Boy Beaten For Hours, Court Told

The Age

Friday August 6, 1993

GERARD RYLE, JIM BAKER, NICK PAPADOPOULOS

The death of six-year-old boy in Nowra has drawn the attention of the nation this week. GERARD RYLE, JIM BAKER and NICK PAPADOPOULOS report.

The mother of six-year-old John Erik Ashfield, Gunn-Britt Ashfield, appeared briefly in Parramatta Local Court yesterday shaking and sobbing as she was charged with her son's murder.

Dressed in blue jeans, a green parka and barefoot, Ms Ashfield, 26, of Nowra, sat in the dock with her head bowed, her long hair covering her face.

Her solicitor did not enter a plea nor apply for bail. She was remanded in custody to appear at Nowra Local Court on Monday.

In Nowra Local Court yesterday, her fiance, Austin Allan Hughes, 20, was brought into court under tight security. He was also charged with murdering John Ashfield.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Jeff Tunks, said Mr Hughes participated in a ``horrific and systematic beating of the six-year- old boy over a period of more than two hours".

The child was flown to Westmead Hospital in Sydney where he was admitted with critical head injuries, the court heard. He was brain- dead on arrival and was placed on a life-support system. Medical staff switched that off at 6.45pm on Thursday and pronounced him dead.

Sergeant Tunks said Mr Hughes took part in an electronic interview at Nowra Police Station, where he gave a graphic account of his version of Wednesday's events.

Mr Hughes and Ms Ashfield had concocted a story of an assault on their son by four juveniles in Nowra's Lyrebird Park to mislead authorities, the court was told.

No bail application was made on Mr Hughes' behalf. He was remanded in custody to reappear on Monday.

Police said they feared for his safety if bail was granted.

The NSW Department of Community Services said last night that the family had previously come under its scrutiny.

The department said that John and four other children had come to the attention of social workers before he was brought unconcious to hospital on Wednesday.

The general manager of the department's southern division, Mr David Sherlock, said the other children had since been medically examined because of the injuries doctors found on John's body.

He would not reveal details of the examinations. Police said the children ranged from 3 to 8 years old.

``The department has had previous contact with the family but I cannot say any more because of the usual confidentiality issues," Mr Sherwood said.

``We have submitted a care application to the Children's Court regarding the further care of the other four children (of Ms Ashfield).

``Cases like this are very tragic, there is no doubt about that," he said. ``One can only wonder how they could occur.

There were near-riot scenes outside the Nowra court yesterday as community outrage over the death spilled on to the streets when Mr Hughes appeared.

One protester was arrested as police stuggled to contain an angry crowd of about 150 people, many of whom hurled abuse at and tried to get to Mr Hughes as he was taken to and from the court in a paddy- wagon.

Local residents waving placards and shouting crammed the footpath and spilled on to the road outside the court.

People had gathered from early morning outside the court to catch sight of Mr Hughes.

Less than 24 hours earlier many had telephoned the police station next door offering support and information after Mr Hughes and Ms Ashfield had gone to the nation's media to appeal for help to catch the alleged killers.

``We all feel used and cheated," a local resident, Mr Kevin Talbot, said. ``First we were told one thing, and now another.

The head of the children's intensive care unit at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Dr Barry Wilkins, said the boy's injuries were consistent with having been punched and kicked.

He said John had bruises ``on his back, his bottom, his head, (and) his face".

The Mayor of Nowra, Mr Max Atkins, said the the town was a favored spot for low-income families because of the relative cheapness of beach-side rental accommodation. ``I still think there is a great sense of disbelief about town," he said.

Police looking for John Ashfield's father to inform him officially of his son's death revealed that a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Police said the boy's father, who has not yet been found, was wanted by police in relation to a separate matter.

© 1993 The Age

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