Grafton teen on murder charge

AN 18-year-old Grafton man will face court in Newcastle today charged with murder after the fatal shooting of a man at Raymond Terrace in June.

The Grafton man was one of three people homicide detectives have charged with the murder of Joshua Dillon Maynard, 21, on June 30.

The Grafton man was arrested at 11am yesterday in Belmont as part of an ongoing investigation by detectives in Strike Force Polden.

Police interviewed him and charged him with murder and affray. A total of seven people have been arrested following the fatal shooting.

The charges relate to investigations into the death of Mr Maynard at Raymond Terrace just after midnight on Wednesday, June 30, following reports of a brawl involving a number of men on Link Drive.

Mr Maynard was found shot at the scene and taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Strike Force Polden comprises detectives from State Crime Command’s homicide squad and detectives from Northern Region, and was established to investigate the fatal shooting.

The Grafton man was refused bail and will appear in either Belmont or Newcastle Local Court tomorrow.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing.