Man who allegedly assaulted cop granted bail

He was in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon for a subsequent bail application.

One of the outstanding matters is an alleged assault of Nathalia police officer Bruce Rigoni, where the accused is alleged to have attended his Barmah residence and threatened to both kill and seriously injure Sgt Rigoni before hitting him in the face.

It is alleged Guthrie told Sgt Rigoni "I'm going to kill you" and "that's your head" after hitting a tree with a metal pipe. Sgt Rigoni allegedly hit Guthrie with a torch and pushed him off a scooter as he attempted to ride away.

Informant Senior Constable Anthony Vulling, who is also stationed at Nathalia Police Station, told the bail application that police opposed bail, citing the fact Guthrie had already previously failed to answer bail.

He said he had spoken to Sgt Rigoni, who was also not supportive of the bail application.

Under questioning from defence lawyer Ian Michaelson, Sen Constable Vulling acknowledged Guthrie had abided by all other bail conditions, which include to reside at his sister's house in Nathalia, abide by a curfew and not to attend Barmah.

Mr Michaelson said his client instructed it had been "simply human error" with Guthrie assuming his next court appearance was on March 5. He added many of the charges were contested, and the court was not seriously inconvenienced with the matters being listed for a mention.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Caitlin McLeod told the court Guthrie must show exceptional circumstances to be granted bail, arguing "forgetting his court date is not an exceptional circumstance".

Magistrate Peter Mithen granted bail, stating while it was a "hard-to-believe slip" and the outstanding charges were serious matters, he saw nothing sinister in Guthrie's "simple slip".

“It's a matter for him to answer to the Echuca court. I'm prepared to accept it was human error,” he said.

Guthrie is due back at Echuca Magistrates’ Court on May 18.