Teenager pleads guilty to assault

A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to an assault in Nickol that left a 37-year-old man fighting for his life with serious head injuries. Karratha detectives charged the teenager with grievous bodily harm after he assaulted Corey Powles outside his home in Nickol on Sunday. The assault occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning around Butler Court and Nickol Road. Mr Powles was initially conveyed to Karratha Health Campus however his injuries were so serious he was flown to Perth via the Royal Flying Doctor Service for treatment. He suffered a bleed on the brain, air on the brain, multiple skull fractures and a fracture in his face. Mr Powles’s family have set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the victim’s wife and 2 year-old daughter which has raised over $33,000 in just 24 hours. “Corey has recently been working for himself, meaning he now has no income what so ever,” it said. “On top of that Ange has only recently started a new job after losing her last position at the start of the Coronavirus crisis, so she has no paid leave. “It is unknown how long Corey’s recovery is going to take, which mean it’s unknown when they will again have an income.” Police thanked members of the community who assisted with the investigation. The boy is due to next appear in Perth Children’s Court next Tuesday.