Foreign Correspondence

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Further arrests over Rosemeadow brawl
Arjun Ramachandran
January 8, 2009



Insert:* Demolition ordered for Rosemeadow estate
AN URBAN design experiment declared a failure 10 years ago, and inadequate funding to help
young people in western Sydney, contributed to this week's street violence in a Rosemeadow estate.

The Government revealed yesterday it would demolish part of the troubled estate as police continued to deal with
the fallout from Monday's brawl, which left two people with bullet wounds and several others stabbed and bashed.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/demolition-ordered-for-rosemeadow-estate/2009/01/07/1231004105780.html

A police car window was smashed in Rosemeadow last night, as police made further
arrests over the bloody brawl at a south-west Sydney public housing estate on Monday night.

The window was smashed as the car left Macduff Way - near Macbeth Way where this
week's violence occurred - despite the presence of 25 police officers, police said.

Police earlier arrested three people during patrols of the volatile neighbourhood,
where streets are named after characters from the works of William Shakespeare.

During the patrol of the "3M" precinct - named after MacBeth, Malcolm and Macduff Ways - police
also confiscated a truckload of rocks and bottles that might be used as weapons in future attacks.

A 26-year-old Rosemeadow man was arrested about 5.30pm and charged with affray.

About 11am, a 16-year-old who was stabbed in the brawl was also charged with two counts of affray.

A short time earlier, a 16-year-old who was under police guard at hospital after being stabbed
several times in the brawl was charged with two counts of discharging a firearm with intent
to cause grievous bodily harm, causing danger with a firearm, discharging loaded arms with
intent, two counts of affray, possessing an unregistered firearm and other firearm offences.

A police source said the teen gave a "chilling" interview in which he described practising firing a rifle into a
field behind his house, and expressed no remorse about the two people he was accused of shooting.

All three who were charged yesterday were refused bail and face court today. The two 16-
year-olds will face Campbelltown Children's Court and the man will face Campbelltown Local Court.

Anthony Michael Neely, 18, faced Campbelltown Local Court yesterday and was charged with affray.

Police still hope to arrest others believed to have been involved in the violence on Monday night.

Up 100 people had gathered in the street when police arrived on Monday
night, although it was believed 30 were actively involved in the brawl.

Seven people were injured, including two who were shot.

Police said on Tuesday there were likely to be others who were injured but who had not attended a hospital.

Monday night's violence has also prompted calls for the Government to review the future
of the public housing estate, with many residents on Tuesday calling for it to be bulldozed.
with Dylan Welch

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tempest-brews-at-macduff/2009/01/08/1231004143093.html