Talk about dodging a bullet
Ex-Penrith Panthers junior Maurice Trindall bailed over Anzac Day assault charge
Once on track to be a professional rugby league player, ex-Panthers junior Maurice Trindall now faces serious criminal charges over his alleged involvement in a vicious brawl outside a pub.
Shannon Tonkin
2 min read
March 19, 2025 - 4:25PM
Maurice Trindall in a promotional picture for a NSW Rugby League match between Brothers and Mounties. Picture: Facebook
A man allegedly bashed unconscious by a one-time Penrith Panthers junior on Anzac Day last year was initially feared dead by those who witnessed the horror assault, a court has heard.
Maurice Trindall, who once had a promising rugby league career having played for Penrith in the SG Ball competition in 2018, is facing charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and affray over the April 25, 2024 incident outside the Bidwill Hotel in western Sydney.
Trindall and two friends, Alex Lyzwa and Frederick Solo, are accused of bashing the victim unconscious and stomping on his head before leaving him lying passed out in the gutter and bleeding from the ears.
One terrified witness allegedly told police she saw Lyzwa “run towards [the victim] and with both feet, jump in the air and stomp on [his] head”.
The alleged act prompted the woman to yell out “leave him alone, he’s f**king dead, what are you doing?”
Maurice Trindall in a promotional picture for Brothers Penrith Junior Rugby League. Picture: Supplied
Meanwhile, Trindall is alleged to have glassed a female bystander in the face after she tried to assist the injured man.
Full details of how the incident unfolded can be revealed for the first time after Trindall was granted strict bail in the NSW Supreme Court last month.
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According to documents tendered during the bail application, Trindall, Lyzwa and Solo had gotten into a dispute with the man and his friends outside the pub minutes earlier, which had been broken up by security guards and the parties sent their separate ways — Trindall, Lyżwa and Solo in an Uber and the alleged victim and his mates on foot.
The court heard Lyzwa allegedly told the Uber driver to pull over down the road and the trio hopped out of the car to confront the rival group.
It is alleged the start of the melee was caught on the Uber’s dashcam and shows Trindall throwing the first punch, before an all-in brawl erupts and the group moves out of view of the camera.
The footage is expected to form a vital part of the police case against the trio if their matters proceed to trial.
Trindall and his friends had been at the Bidwill Hotel (pictured) before the alleged attack. Picture: Supplied
The court heard the man was taken to Westmead Hospital where it was revealed he had a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and hearing loss.
He remained in hospital for more than a week under the care of a trauma surgery team.
The female was taken to Mt Druitt Hospital where she was treated for cuts to her face and released early the following morning.
The court heard witnesses gave statements to police allegedly identifying Trindall, Lyzwa and Solo as the aggressors in the fight.
The trio was arrested a few months later and remanded in custody.
Maurice Trindall in a promotional picture for Brothers Penrith Junior Rugby League.
In seeking bail for their client, Trindall’s legal team told the Supreme Court the 24-year-old father-of-two still had dreams of pursuing a professional rugby league career and would agree to abide by strict conditions if granted bail.
Justice Andrew Coleman SC described the bail application as a “finely balanced matter” but ultimately granted Trindall bail, despite objections by prosecutors.
As part of his bail, Trindall must report to police daily, comply with a night-time curfew and live with family in St Marys.
He is also banned from entering the suburb of Bidwill or contacting Solo or Lyzwa, both of whom are facing charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and affray.
The cases for all three men will return to court on March 28.
