The Campbelltown tradie accused of assaulting an elderly man during a parking dispute at Bulli earlier this month, leaving him fighting for life in hospital, has fronted court for the first time.
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Alasdair Papalii faced Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday, charged with reckless grievous bodily harm over the May 1 incident, as well as two unrelated unlicensed driving offences.
Papalii, 25, was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with a 75-year-old man over parking on Hospital Road, near the Bulli Aged Care Centre of Excellence construction site where he was working, about 7am.
Police said Papalii struck the older man, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground. It's believed he then suffered a stroke.
A crime scene was set up and police launched an investigation. Papalii was arrested in Campbelltown the following day and charged with reckless grievous bodily harm.
He was granted conditional bail. In court on Tuesday, Magistrate Shane McAnulty adjourned Papalii's case to May 28.
He remains on conditional bail.
The elderly man was treated by paramedics at the scene for head and neck injuries, before being taken to Wollongong Hospital.
The man was later moved to the intensive care unit at Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital as his condition deteriorated.
He has since been transferred back to Wollongong Hospital, where he remained in a stable condition on Tuesday afternoon.
It is understood the altercation started when Papalii moved the elderly resident's garbage bins to park his vehicle.
NSW Health Infrastructure escorted the worker from the construction site shortly after the incident.
The Mercury understands the worker, and the sub-contracting company, have since been dismissed from the job.
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Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
