Attempted Murder Charge Withdrawn in Mayfield Police Shooting Case
A dramatic police confrontation in Newcastle's Mayfield suburb has taken a significant legal turn, with prosecutors withdrawing an attempted murder charge against a man who was shot by officers during a tense standoff.
Guilty Plea to Assault Charges
Aaron Barrie Searle, 47, appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday via audio-visual link from Long Bay Correctional Centre, where he pleaded guilty to two charges: assaulting police and using an offensive weapon to commit an indictable offence.
The guilty pleas came after the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to withdraw five other charges, including the most serious count of attempting to murder a police officer. Searle, who appeared on crutches during the court proceedings, will next appear in Newcastle District Court on February 26 to receive a sentencing date.
The Violent Confrontation
The incident unfolded on February 15 last year when police responded to a domestic violence-related welfare concern at a unit block in Hanbury Street, Mayfield. According to police accounts, officers arrived at approximately 4:10pm when the situation escalated dramatically.
Police allege that Searle "unexpectedly" ran from his unit toward two officers while armed with a bladed tactical shovel. Authorities claim he then assaulted a male senior constable with the weapon, prompting officers to deploy a taser in an attempt to subdue him.
When the taser proved ineffective, police discharged a firearm, striking the 47-year-old in the stomach. Officers immediately administered first aid before ambulance paramedics arrived and transported Searle to John Hunter Hospital in serious condition.
Hospital Recovery and Initial Charges
Following the shooting, Searle underwent surgery and spent more than a week recovering in John Hunter Hospital. Upon his release from medical care, he faced multiple serious charges including:
- Attempting to murder a police officer
- Assaulting police
- Assaulting police and causing actual bodily harm
- Using an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence
- Common assault
- Affray
The Newcastle Herald had previously reported in December that prosecutors were preparing to drop the attempted murder charge as part of ongoing negotiations with defence counsel.
Ongoing Investigations
A critical incident investigation team from the Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Arbor to examine the circumstances surrounding the police shooting. This investigation remains ongoing and is subject to an independent review, ensuring thorough scrutiny of the events that led to the use of lethal force.
The resolution of this case through negotiated pleas rather than a contested trial represents a significant development in what began as one of Newcastle's more dramatic police confrontations in recent memory.
