Assault trial: Geraldton mayor Shane Van Styn’s accuser Tahnwa Graham Manrique was ‘looking for trouble’

A man who has accused Geraldton mayor Shane Van Styn of assaulting him at a Kalbarri hotel last year was antagonising patrons on the night, a court has been told. Then bar manager of the Kalbarri Motor Hotel, Sean Ingram, testified this morning in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court that it seemed like the complainant, 32-year-old Tahnwa Graham Manrique, was “looking for trouble that night”. “He had been upsetting a lot of people in the bar and staff,” Mr Ingram said. “He was carrying himself like a puffer fish.” Mr Ingram said he was not present in the bar during the alleged incident on April 6, but had not seen Mr Van Styn showing any sign of aggression. “For hours Tahnwa kept going after Mr Van Styn and others looking for a reaction,” he said. “Mr Van Styn was trying to calm him down. “I appreciated the help.” Under questioning from defence lawyer George Giudice, Mr Ingram said a lot of men were getting angry at the complainant and he was concerned about the possibility of an altercation. He said he had seen the verbal altercation over a chair between Mr Manrique and Mr Van Styn after Mr Manrique’s friend Martin “Marty” Gobel sat in Mr Van Styn’s chair. “I can’t recall any physical contact,” he said. “I tried to defuse the situation. At the time I believed I had been successful.” Mr Van Styn is expected to take the stand today, on day three of his trial for alleged assault occasioning bodily harm. The trial, before Magistrate Sandra De Maio, continues.