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Wit-boooka, legally known as Gary Tomlinson
Wit-boooka, legally known as Gary Tomlinson
Crime

Trio faces 18 charges over Gympie land rights protest

by
21st May 2019 12:02 AM
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THE trial over the alleged assault of Gympie Regional Council staff by three aboriginal activists during a land rights protest in Mary St starts today, almost three years after the incident.

Wit-boooka (pictured above), legally known as 53-year-old Gary Roy Tomlinson of Southside, Djaki Widjung (Diane Patricia Redden-King), 61, of Curra, and Djaa 'mee Gular Djan du Kabi (Mervyn Alfred James Tomlinson), 54, of Curra, pleaded not guilty yesterday to 18 charges stemming from the protest, which allegedly turned violent, at the council's Mary St office on May 31, 2016.

The trio are alleged to have unlawfully entered the council's property aiming to cause "reasonable fear to (Gympie Mayor) Michael William Curran".

 

LAND RIGHTS: Activist Wit-boooka with co-accused and supporters as their claim to own Gympie region goes through the courts.
Activist Wit-boooka with co-accused and supporters at a previous court appearance in Gympie. Arthur Gorrie

Eight of the charges before Gympie District Court are against Wit-boooka, who is accused of assaulting five people including Cr Curran, council CEO Bernard James Smith, infrastructure services director Dimitri Scordalides, then-Senior Constable Daven Bruce Richards, and Diana Elizabeth White.

Djaki Widjung and Djaa 'mee Gular Djan du Kabi are also accused of assaulting Cr Curran and causing bodily harm.

 

Gympie Council Bernard Smith.
ALLEGED VICTIM: Council CEO Bernard Smith Renee Albrecht

Opening statements from Mr McAvoy and Crown prosecutor Ryder Reid are being made today.

 

Mayor Mick Curran at Rattler return launch.
ALLEGED VICTIM: Mayor Mick Curran. Scott Kovacevic

The trial is expected to continue through to at least Friday and may finish by the middle of next week.

'The van was virtually the first visitor information centre. It was the go-to place to find what was going on and where things were.'

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Business 'The van was virtually the first visitor information centre. It was the go-to place to find what was going on and where things were.'