The violent fracas resulted in several guests being seriously injured; one guest was knocked unconscious after being struck by a pool cue. A woman was punched, while others received facial lacerations after being hit by broken glass.

At 6am on Thursday and then again on Friday, teams of police from the Goulburn Local Area Command went to homes in the Bowral area and made the arrests. Charging 16 people with different offences, including riot, affray, assault and drug matters, the others were released pending inquiries. Those charged were mainly locals, though some apparently had come from Wollongong and Campbelltown, and were aged from 15 to 22.

It all began when a small group of uninvited guests were turned away from the magistrate’s son’s 18th birthday at the private residence, at 9.30pm which had around 60 invited guests.

Full story SHN Monday, February 25