Waveley Ward: Man accused of one-punch hit which left another man with broken jaw and fractured skull

A 23-year-old Kalgoorlie-Boulder man has been accused of a one-punch hit which left another man with a broken jaw and fractured skull requiring surgery in Perth. Waveley Ward fronted Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Thursday in police custody, charged with one count of grievous bodily harm. It was alleged that on Wednesday at 3pm, the man and the victim were involved in a physical altercation on the Burt Street end of Lane Street in Boulder, when Mr Ward threw a punch with his right fist, causing the other man to fall back on to the road and hit his head. Prosecuting Const. Kim Sullivan told the court there were nine other people present at the time of the alleged fight, including one person who recorded the footage on their phone, which had been forwarded on to police. Const. Sullivan said the victim was taken via ambulance to Kalgoorlie Health Campus where he was diagnosed with a severely broken jaw and depressed skull fracture requiring surgery in Perth. Const. Sullivan said it was still unknown what long-term effects the victim would face but he opposed bail and would seek an immediate jail term for Mr Ward. Defence lawyer Murray Stubbs said his client claimed the alleged hit was in self-defence and was seeking a copy of CCTV footage which captured the incident before entering a plea. Mr Ward was remanded in custody and will next appear in court early next month.