Man allegedly hit and kicked woman

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 11

Man allegedly hit and kicked woman

A man, who allegedly kicked a woman with whom he had been living, and then went away for a hammer, was yesterday committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of assault with intent to injure. The defendant, Kerry Raytnond Bray, aged 27, unemployed (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon) pleaded not guilty and elected trial by jury on a charge of assaulting Pamela Susan Selfe, a solo mother, with intent to injure her on April 25. After hearing the prosecution evidence Mr M. G. Smith and Miss J. Taylor, Justices of the Peace, held that a prima facie case had been established. He was remanded on bail to July 2. Sergeant R. Brickmann prosecuted. Mrs Selfe said that after the and the defendant had argued on their return home from a race meeting at 11 p.m. on April 23 the defendant had hit her while she was in the toilet. Her head struck the cistern after he hit her face. In the kitchen they again argued and the defendant hit ber on the head and she fell to the floor. He then kicked her in the face or head. She thought he was wearing boots at the time.

The defendant then left the room and returned with a hammer and started tap-

ping this under her chin and threatening her. A neighbour came to the door. Mrs Selfe opened the door, and ran along the street and telephoned for assistance from a friend’s house. She suffered two broken teeth in a dental plate, and bruising to her face, arms, and legs. Cross-examined by Mr Fitzgibbon, the complainant said the defendant had never reacted like that before. "His eyes went all funny. He just did not look like he knew what he was doing,” she said.

She said both had been drinking and the defendant must have had “an awful lot” as he had been drinking all day while she had been at work.

Constable W. J. UrquhartBennett said he investigated the assault complaint and found blood in the kitchen and toilet. The defendant was interviewed later at his sister’s house and he admitted assaulting Mrs Selfe, the constable said. He said he had been wearing calf boots that evening, but denied kicking the complainant, or hitting her with a hammer.

Fresh blood was found on the toes of his boots., but when asked about this he did not give an explanation. Mr Fitzgibbon reserved his defence.