by Crown lawyers say they’ve withdrawn charges against the last of six people accused in a brutal attack on a homeless man in North Sydney because they felt there was no reasonable chance of a successful prosecution.
24 year-old Cory Patrick Richard Blinkhorn from North Sydney faced counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, wearing a disguise in committing an offence, and falsely representing himself as a police officer in the case.
But in court yesterday, prosecutors Darcy MacPherson and Glenn Gouthro said their case against Blinkhorn was stymied by inconsistent statements and uncooperative witnesses.
Gouthro adds there were also no independent witnesses, no forensic evidence and an inability of the victim to offer any statement because of the severity of his injuries.
Shawn Kurtis Jack suffered severe head injuries in the July 2014 attack at his camp and is not expected to ever live independently.
Police say a torque wrench and a machinist hammer were used in the assault.
27 year-old Kyle William Nichol from North Sydney was sentenced in April of last year to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault in the attack.
Four others were sentenced on charges ranging from aggravated assault to being an accessory after the fact.