Ambulance workers bashed, court hears

By Michele Tydd
Updated November 6 2012 - 12:01am, first published March 26 2010 - 10:10am
Officers Tony Ryan (left) and Geordie King leave Wollongong Local Court. Pictures: ADAM McLEAN
Officers Tony Ryan (left) and Geordie King leave Wollongong Local Court. Pictures: ADAM McLEAN
Max Goodchild and his girlfriend Stacey Baldo have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the attack.
Max Goodchild and his girlfriend Stacey Baldo have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the attack.

Ambulance paramedic Sylvia Malecki thought she was on her way to a routine job the night a call went out about an intoxicated woman who had collapsed at Primbee.But it turned dangerously ugly when two aggressive bystanders - a male and female - turned on Officer Malecki, her partner and two colleagues who rushed to help them, she told Wollongong Local Court yesterday.The male attacked one of the paramedics who had arrived to help, telling him "you're f...ing dead ... I'm going to kill you", the court heard."It was like an all-out brawl in a violent movie, with screaming, punching and kicking, with the girl joining in," Officer Malecki said.Before the court were Max Goodchild, 18, and his girlfriend, Stacey Baldo, 18.Goodchild, of Pleasant St, Warilla, is pleading not guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three counts of common assault.Baldo, 18, of Sturdee St, Towradgi, also pleaded not guilty to three counts of common assault and one of hindering police.Officer Malecki said she and Officer Anthony Ryan were called to treat the woman, who was having fits and collapsed outside a home at Primbee in the early hours of August 2 last year.She said Baldo, who was holding the patient's head up, said she collapsed from alcoholic poisoning after four of them (including another male) had consumed a four-litre cask of wine.Officer Malecki said Goodchild and Baldo, who seemed intoxicated, were highly aggressive and abusive, "calling us c...s, bitches, anything they could think of", as they tried to assess the patient.Officer Malecki said that at one point Goodchild picked up the 60kg steel stretcher, overturned it and threw it at her, catching the back of her leg."I thought, 'oh my God, I'm going to die tonight'," she said.Officer Ryan said Baldo and Goodchild wanted to take control of the scene and became enraged when they could not ride with the patient to hospital in the ambulance.He said the patient was only transported to get her out of the situation and that she woke up en route and was remorseful over what had happened.Officer Geordie King, who arrived on the scene with partner Anthony White to help his colleagues, received the most serious injuries on the night.He said he was pushed up against the ambulance by Baldo, who kept pummelling his chest.Officer King said Goodchild had soon joined in with "the relentless attack", punching him and grabbing at him."These people meant business ... I was constantly being told (by Goodchild) 'you're f...ing dead, I'm going to kill you'."Officer King said the pair backed off only when police officers arrived.He was treated for injuries to the chest, neck and the jaw, was cut above his eye, and had his shirt ripped from his body.Solicitor John Gallagaher, for Baldo, said: "I'd suggest my client did not strike or push you."Officer King: "She punched me about 10 times in the chest ... she was the main perpetrator in the whole bloody thing."When questioned about his response to the attack, Officer King said he put up his arms in defence and did not strike either Baldo or Goodchild.Magistrate Ian Guy adjourned the hearing to June 18 to hear evidence from the defence.

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