Young Perth doctor faces manslaughter charge over Fremantle death

A young Perth doctor faces a manslaughter charge over the death of a 63-year-old man in Fremantle in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Christian Jack Joseph, 26, faced Perth Magistrates Court still dressed in a blue forensics jumpsuit on Sunday, a day after he was arrested when emergency services were called to South Terrace to find the older man unresponsive. He later died at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

The court heard Joseph, who lives in Crawley, had been at a friend’s house before drinking at a nearby venue and, when they returned, had spotted the 63-year-old standing on a boundary fence of the home and peering into a room.

They shouted at the man, chased him, and Joseph pinned him to the ground before putting him in a chokehold for almost two minutes.

The court was told that when he realised the man had fallen unconscious, Joseph – a junior doctor at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital – began first aid, including CPR, and told his friend to call triple zero.

Prosecutors said there was no indication of what the man was doing when Joseph and his friend confronted him, and only appeared to be looking into the window from the fence. The court was told the incident was captured on CCTV.

Joseph’s lawyer told the court his client had acted in self-defence, and was fearful of the “intimidating” older man.

He told the court there was no information yet as to why the 63-year-old man had become unresponsive so quickly.

He said Joseph had dedicated his life to saving lives, and continued that desire to help as soon as the situation turned serious.

An application for bail was denied, as was a request for Joseph’s identity to be kept under wraps – at least until his next appearance.

The magistrate said the circumstances were too serious to grant bail, and, in denying a suppression order, said justice should remain open: “Any reporting will be worrying to the accused, but I’m not satisfied that there are sufficient grounds to suppress his name.”

Joseph will next appear at Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on August 5.