Not guilty verdict

Press, 19 August 1983, Page 7

Not guilty verdict

A man, aged 51, who entered a woman friend’s house through a window to find that she was in bed with a younger man, was found not guilty by a jury in the District Court yesterday of charges of assaulting the woman and man, in the woman’s bedroom after midnight on March 26. Judge Pain discharged the defendant who had denied the two assault

charges. A final order was made suppressing the names of the defendant, and the two complainants. Mr B. M. Stanaway appeared for the Crown, and Mr G. R. Lascelles for the defendant.

The jury reached its verdict after a retirement of 50 minutes. Evidence in the case was heard on Wednesday, and counsels’ addresses and the Judge’s summing up yester-

day morning. The Crown’s case was that the defendant entered the room and struck the woman with a torch. The man in bed with her then went to her assistance and a struggle ensued. The defendant also allegedly punched the woman on her jaw during a pause in the struggle between the two men. The woman and the defendant had known each other for more than 10

years and at times had had sexual intercourse, according to evidence. Defence evidence and submissions were that the defendant did not attack the woman and that he had been attacked and involved in a fight with the younger man. Any blows truck by the defendant were in self-de-fence and he had suffered a beating. ■