The son of an accused cop killer has leapt to his father’s defence after he allegedly mowed down a retired police officer with his car while she was walking her dog.
Dion Anthony Craig, 50, allegedly struck Lisa Ward, 55, then drove off and left her to die after an argument broke out between the pair near Ulmarra Showground, north of Grafton in northern NSW, on Tuesday.
Ms Ward was walking her dog just before 5pm when she came across a 4WD she had previously reported for alleged dangerous driving.
She allegedly saw the vehicle performing burnouts at the showground on Coldstream Street and took a photo of the car’s registration plate.
Craig, pictured for the first time below, allegedly then accelerated towards Ms Ward and struck her before driving away.
Ms Ward suffered critical injuries and died at the scene, with police arresting Craig 14 hours later.
As members of the community flocked online to denounce Craig’s alleged crimes, his son has lashed out at people discussing the incident, claiming allegations have been fabricated.
‘Mate, were you there?’ his son wrote to one man.
Dion Craig, 50, has been charged over the alleged hit-and-run murder of a retired cop
Police will allege an argument broke out before Craig killed Lisa Ward in a hit-and-run at Ulmarra Showground (pictured)
‘Because she is an ex copper (they’re) gonna make up story’s to what happened (sic).
‘I know him the best over every one and I saw him that afternoon.
‘He doesn’t do burn outs in his car. He stays away from people and keeps to himself… I know him well enough.
‘All you gronks just need to get a life and stop having an addiction to drama.’
Police located and seized a 4WD in South Grafton on Wednesday morning.
Craig was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station, where he was later charged with murder and owner not disclose identity of driver/passenger.
Craig was remanded in custody to face Bail Division Court 1 on Thursday.
He did not appear in court, where his lawyer did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
Retired police officer Lisa Ward (pictured) was killed in an alleged hit-and-run while walking her dog in Ulmarra on Tuesday
Craig is pictured alongside a previous partner in 2012
Flowers have been placed at the scene in memory of Lisa Ward
It’s understood Ms Ward was a highly respected constable within the Coffs Harbour and Clarence police ranks before she retired from the force a few years ago.
Shocked locals told The Daily Telegraph that Ms Ward was well known in the close-knit community and was known to walk her dog at the showground every afternoon.
‘She was a lovely person,’ another local posted online.
Several floral tributes were laid at the scene on Wednesday.
It’s understood Ms Ward’s son followed in her footsteps and is a serving officer at Grafton Police.
Ulmarra Showground remained a cordoned-off crime scene on Wednesday as detectives investigated the scene.
Craig is next due in Grafton Local Court on January 20.
