Shane Van Styn trial: Former bartender says she witnessed Geraldton mayor assault man

A former bartender giving evidence today in the trial of Geraldton mayor Shane Van Styn for alleged assault says she saw him punch a man in the face. Ellise Nicholls, a 25-year-old backpacker from England, was a bartender at the Kalbarri Motor Hotel when the assault occasioning bodily harm allegedly occurred on April 6 last year. The prosecution witness, giving evidence by videolink on day two of the trial in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court, said she checked Mr Van Styn into the hotel at 10.30am and he began drinking in the bar shortly after. “We built a friendship that day because it was quiet and I was serving him,” he said. “We spoke a lot.” She said she did not see the initial confrontation between Mr Van Styn and his accuser Tahnwa Graham Manrique, but when she returned from the bathroom Mr Van Styn, with whom she had been drinking, was angry. “Mr Van Styn was noticeably emotional angry,” she said. “You could see it clearly through body language.” She described Mr Manrique as a regular at the Kalbarri Motor Hotel who was “loud and hyperactive” and “just sort of wanting attention a lot of the time”. “I can’t remember if I had ever seen him in a fight,” she said. “I would not have been surprised if there was a verbal fight.” Ms Nicholls said she followed the still angry Mr Van Styn out into the smoking room and witnessed him punch the complainant. “Mr Van Styn bee-lined for the smoking area,” she said. “I thought it would be some sort of confrontation so I followed. “He went inside and very quickly walked straight to Mr Manrique and punched him straight in his face.” Ms Nicholls then kicked out Mr Manrique because she viewed him as a “troublemaker” and continued to speak and play pool with Mr Van Styn. She could not recall if Mr Manrique was being aggressive that night as defence lawyer George Giudice has suggested. “It’s the Kalbarri Motor Hotel,” she said. “It’s a country pub. That kind of stuff happens all the time. I can’t remember.” But under cross-examination from Mr Giudice, Ms Nicholls admitted she did not see Mr Van Styn physically punch Mr Manrique as his frame was blocking her view. “I can’t recall seeing the physical contact, I remember seeing a movement of the right shoulder,” she said. “I didn’t see his fist touch Tahnwa’s face.” Ms Nicholls recalls seeing "red around his mouth" and scratches on Mr Van Styn's right knuckles after the alleged assault. The trial before Magistrate Sandra De Maio continues.