Ben Justin Errington: 18-year-old Karratha man bailed over alleged machete attack, to appear in Supreme Court

A Karratha man has been granted bail despite being accused of hacking a man’s face, head, arms and hands with a machete as his alleged victim slept. Ben Justin Errington appeared in Karratha Magistrates Court via video link from Roebourne Regional Prison to apply for bail on his recently upgraded charge of attempted murder. The 18-year-old was previously charged with grievous bodily harm before community backlash led to his re-arrest. Mr Errington is alleged to have attacked a sleeping man in a Bulgarra home with a machete in the early hours of March 5, causing potentially life-changing injuries. In court on Tuesday, the prosecution urged that Mr Errington’s bail application be denied, saying he was a “risk to the safety of the community and to himself”. But his lawyer told Magistrate Cillian Stockdale the offence was “out of the blue”. “Ben’s father is prepared to provide an $80,000 surety, providing that he resides with him (his father) in Perth,” the defence said. “Additionally, Ben was not shown to be a flight risk when bailed on the previous offence of grievous bodily harm . . . so there’s nothing to suggest that he’ll be a flight risk in Perth.” Mr Stockdale granted bail on the grounds that Mr Errington undergoes counselling and he reports to Cannington police station twice a week. On the night of the incident, police say Mr Errington went to the alleged victim’s home in order to buy drugs but realised he didn’t have enough money and so left. Shortly afterwards, it is alleged Mr Errington snuck back into the 24-year-old man’s home before swinging the machete — belonging to the alleged victim — above his head. He was allegedly caught by a housemate of the man, who claims Mr Errington asked: “Should I kill this guy?” The accused then allegedly plunged the machete into the sleeping man’s face and head, also causing injuries to his forearm and hands. The court heard the alleged victim’s injuries were so serious he requires ongoing rehabilitation for broken bones and has suffered potentially permanent nerve damage in his arms and hands. Mr Errington will appear in the Supreme Court at Stirling Gardens on March 29.