This article is from a couple of days ago but I haven't seen this reported in the Melbourne media.
Tempers boil in Krakouer case
Jo Prichard
Sunday Times
January 02, 2007 05:45am
THE grandmother of Justin Martin, the young man allegedly bashed by Richmond footballer Andrew Krakouer, has rejected any hope of reconciliation between the two families.
Matriarch Joan Martin said yesterday she was not interested in meeting the Krakouers, after the fallen football star and father of the accused, Jimmy Krakouer, tried to approach the Martin clan to make peace.
"Do we sit down and thank them ... is that what you're asking? ... Get real," Ms Martin said in Perth yesterday. "The reality is that I don't intend to reconcile with any of the Krakouers, except in the courts."
Mr Martin, a 24-year-old plasterer, is in a stable condition in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after spending a week in intensive care with serious head injuries sustained during an attack on him at the Harbourside nightclub in Fremantle.
AFL player Andrew Krakouer and his brother Tyrone have indicated they will plead not guilty to one count each of unlawful assault causing grievous bodily harm.
Their bail was renewed last week on the condition they not approach Mr Martin.
Retired police superintendent John Watson urged the families last week to get together and talk.
But Mr Martin's father, Greg, said yesterday that making peace was not a priority while his son was still in hospital.
"We've never been in a feud with Andrew Krakouer and his family ... we're trying not to even focus on that, our focus is on Justin's recovery," he said.
"We don't know yet what the fallout's going to be from his health - he was knocked unconscious, he had head injuries and some of his body functions had shut down."
The results of medical tests will determine whether charges against the Krakouer brothers will be downgraded, a move that has angered Ms Martin.
Family threats of tribal payback for those found responsible were toned down yesterday, as she said the main responsibility for justice was with the courts and police.
"I don't believe in exploiting Aboriginal culture or law, I have never done it in the past and I don't intend to do it now," Ms Martin said.
She and her son said young indigenous people needed to show more respect for traditional ways as recognition of customary law was evolving in Western Australia's judicial system.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,21001183-2761,00.html
