By Sam RIgney
A magistrate has granted Newcastle break-in murder accused Ben Batterham conditional bail in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday.
The decision triggered dramatic scenes inside and out of Newcastle courthouse with the mother of Ricky Slater-Dickson yelling at Magistrate Robert Stone and Mr Batterham, who appeared via audio visual link from Cessnock Correctional Centre, before going on an emotional tirade outside.
Beryl Dickson, the mother of Ricky Slater-Dickson, speaks outside Newcastle Court on Tuesday.
The Newcastle Herald reported on Friday that Mr Batterham had chased Mr Slater-Dickson for more than 400 metres before tackling him to the ground and putting him in a "choker hold" where he punched him repeatedly every time he resisted.
But Mr Stone did not accept the prosecution's submissions that it was a "strong case" against Mr Batterham and said that provocation would be a matter "very relevant to a jury".
Accused murderer Benjamin Batterham.Credit: Newcastle Herald
He said he was satisfied any flight risks regarding Mr Batterham could be mitigated by strict bail conditions, including a $200,000 surety, residential conditions and reporting conditions.
As Mr Stone announced he would be granted bail, Mr Batterham's mother, Beryl Dickson, said: "He murdered my son and you're giving him bail?"
She then turned her attention to Mr Batterham, who sat with his head down throughout the proceedings.
"You've murdered my son, look what you've done," she said.
Ricky Slater-Dickson died after the alleged assault.
When asked outside court why it was so upsetting that Mr Batterham was granted bail she replied: "If that was my son do you think they would have given him bail?".
A post-mortem examination on Mr Slater-Dickson's body is still expected to take six to eight weeks, the court heard.
Ricky Slater-Dickson's mother, Beryl Dickson. Credit: Sam Rigney
The matter will return to court in July.