Mt Magnet heritage officer Ashley John Walsh charged after hitting wife with car

Confronting vision has been played in court of the moment a director of a Murchison Aboriginal land corporation struck his wife with a car. Ashley John Walsh, 52, appeared on Monday in Geraldton Magistrates Court after being charged with unlawful assault, and endangering the life, health or safety of a person on December 7 in Mt Magnet. He is also accused of being the driver of a vehicle involved in an incident occasioning in bodily harm and failing to report the incident to police. The court was told Mr Walsh was a respected member of his community and worked as a director and chief heritage officer for Badimia Land Aboriginal Corporation. Mr Walsh held his head in his hands as the court was shown dash-cam footage of the man driving his car into his wife of 27 years, who was seen lying on the ground several metres from the vehicle after impact. She was airlifted to Perth for medical treatment. Police prosecutor Sgt Beau Jones said Mr Walsh had been charged over an “almost identical incident” in 2018 involving his daughter, but those charges were later discontinued. Defence counsel Georgia Keysers said if the matter went to trial, Mr Walsh would likely argue the incident had been an accident and he had been attempting to avoid a collision with a road train when he drove into his wife. She said he had been intoxicated on the night of the incident and was “extremely remorseful” for his actions. Ms Keysers requested Mr Walsh be granted bail because he was involved in “significant” land management work in Mt Magnet and also had an upcoming employment opportunity with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Parks and Wildlife service Magistrate Angus Hockton noted Mr Walsh did “good work in the community”, but was concerned the safety of the community would be at risk if the man continued to consume alcohol when he was released from custody. Mr Walsh’s bail application was refused and he was remanded in custody to appear in court again on March 17.