Jayquarne Godfrey Neil Simpson: Wonthella hit-and-run accused refused bail despite young age and court delays

A Mullewa man’s young age was not enough to get him bail on serious hit-and-run charges, which allegedly left a man and a woman known to him with serious injuries. Jayquarne Godfrey Neil Simpson, 19, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday from Greenough Regional Prison where his bail was refused on charges alleging he struck two people known to him with his car after a street fight broke out. Police prosecutor Sgt Thomas Potts said Mr Simpson was at an address in Wonthella celebrating a family member’s birthday when a fight erupted between attendees, spilling onto the street. The court was told Mr Simpson stopped fighting and walked over to his car, before driving it towards the group. Sgt Potts said he mounted the curb and drove along the footpath for about 40m, striking two people in his car including a 36-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman. Both the man and the woman received serious injuries and required medical treatment in Perth. The 36-year-old man, who the court heard tried to jump over a fence to avoid being hit, received a 12cm laceration to his forehead that exposed his skull and bled profusely, as well as fractures to the right side of his skull. The 32-year-old woman was treated for a collapsed lung and fractures to two ribs, her sacrum and pelvis. Defence counsel Emily Harris said Mr Simpson was facing “extremely serious allegations”, but he was young, had a limited adult record and family supports. Magistrate Matthew Walton agreed Mr Simpson was young and there were delays of more than two years in the District Court, but he noted the accused was handed a community-based order a month before the alleged incident. “All the offences are extremely serious . . . there’s no other way to interpret the alleged material facts,” he said. Bail was refused and Mr Simpson was remanded in custody until Monday, December 16. He is charged with two counts of intent to cause grievous bodily harm and failing to stop after an incident occasioning grievous bodily harm and has not entered pleas.