WA: Krakouer threatened with payback following court appearance

AAP General News (Australia)
12-28-2006
WA: Krakouer threatened with payback following court appearance

By Nicolas Perpitch

PERTH, Dec 28 AAP - Richmond Aboriginal AFL star Andrew Krakouer has been threatened
with traditional payback by family members of a man he is charged with assaulting in Fremantle.

The Tigers player, 23, and his brother Tyrone Krakouer, 21, appeared in the Fremantle
Magistrates Court today charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm.

Justin Robin Martin, 24, sustained head injuries in an incident in Fremantle on Friday
night. He is in the intensive care unit of Perth's Charles Gairdner Hospital in a serious
but stable condition.

About two dozen police stood guard outside the court amid fears of reprisals by more
than 20 friends and family of Mr Martin, who is also Aboriginal.

"Hey Jimmy, what goes around comes around ... 10 times worse," yelled one woman as
the brothers drove away under police escort after their court appearance.

Inside the court, lawyers for the Krakouers said their clients were likely to plead not guilty.

Andrew Krakouer's lawyer John Prior asked for his client's next court appearance to
be on January 4 because of his footballing duties.

"My client Andrew Krakouer is a professional footballer who plays for Richmond and
he's due to return to Melbourne now," Mr Prior told the court.

The two brothers will appear in Fremantle Magistrates Court for a committal mention on January 4.

Andrew Krakouer was granted bail with $10,000 surety and an order not to approach Mr Martin.

Mr Martin's grandmother, Theresa Walley, told reporters outside court there could be
traditional Aboriginal payback against the Krakouers.

"If the court doesn't give justice there will be payback," Ms Walley, who describes
herself as a Fremantle Nyoonga elder, said.

"You can't walk out into the street, or go into a pub and have a drink, without a crowd
wanting to bash you up, you're running from the crowd all the time."

Ms Walley said Andrew Krakouer and her grandson had been friends who played local football
together.

Mr Martin's mother, Sheryl Martin, briefly arrived to join the waiting crowd and broke
down in tears to be comforted by relatives.

When the Krakouers emerged more than an hour after their court appearance, they left
via a back entrance with Andrew driving one car and a police vehicle providing a security
escort.

Justin Martin's younger brother, Kerin Martin, 21, later told AAP he was angry at what
had happened and the family was devastated.

"At first I was pretty angry, but dad just said just think about Justin getting better,
so I've been thinking about Justin," Kerin Martin said.

He said his brother was in intensive care with machines to help him breathe.

"When he went into a fit (on the night of the alleged attack), I think he got a lot
of stuff in his lungs so they need to clear his lungs up," he said.

"It's pretty devastating, just worried about Justin."

He said despite what had happened, Andrew Krakouer's mother and his mother were friends.

"His mum and my mum go to the same church and they're good I think."

AAP np/jlw/jjs/cdh

KEYWORD: KRAKOUER NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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