Geraldton Hotel: Ian and Degan McDougall on trial over alleged bashing, stabbing

A father and son are standing trial in Geraldton accused of a pre- meditated ambush in which it is alleged they bashed and repeatedly stabbed another man outside a local pub. Ian Walter McDougall and Degan McDougall, aged 43 and 20, faced Geraldton District Court on Monday for the first day of their trial, with both challenging a charge of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm. In his opening remarks, State prosecutor Jason Chu said Ian McDougall stabbed the man, Matthew Justin Coleman, seven times while his son punched him outside the Geraldton Hotel on August 28, 2021. According to the prosecution, Degan McDougall and Mr Coleman, who knew the father and son well, had a verbal altercation at the Geraldton Beach Hotel at 7.12pm. Mr Coleman left and walked to the Geraldton Hotel, while it is claimed Degan McDougall called his father, telling him to come over. Mr Chu said a friend of Degan McDougall, Seth Devlin, went to the Geraldton Hotel, spoke to Mr Coleman and asked him to come outside, and when he walked out of the pub, Mr Devlin called over to the McDougalls to alert them. He said the father and son then rushed over to their target and began to assault him. Ian McDougall pulled out a kitchen knife and began stabbing Mr Coleman, while Degan McDougall and Mr Devlin began punching him, Mr Chu told the jury. When Mr Coleman was tripped over as he tried to flee, it is alleged Ian McDougall continued stabbing him on the ground, while the other two continued hitting him. The three eventually left, after which Mr Coleman went back into the Geraldton Hotel for help, and was later given medical treatment. He was found with a serious knife wound to the abdomen, as well as cuts to his right arm and left elbow. The court was told the prosecution had CCTV footage showing the attack. Mr Chu said although it was Ian McDougall who had caused the grievous bodily harm by stabbing Mr Coleman, Degan McDougall was also guilty of the charge because he had agreed to carry out the attack with his father, had helped him by punching the alleged victim, and because the result — grievous bodily harm — was probable. Ian McDougall’s defence lawyer Roman Kan made no opening statement, while Degan McDougall’s lawyer Hubert Gawley said he disputed whether his client was involved when the stabbing happened, whether he did aid his father, and if he intended to commit the resulting offence. Mr Gawley asked the jury to keep an open mind, to concentrate on the evidence, and to give his client “a fair go”. The trial continues.