Man assaulted bar patron

Press, 10 September 1985, Page 18

Man assaulted bar patron

A manager who was said in evidence to be a “bouncer” at the Chancery Tavern was found guilty by a jury in the District Court yesterday of assaulting a patron. The defendant, Stuart Gordon Penman, aged 36, had denied a charge of assaulting Stephen Leonard Doherty in the tavern on April 19. He had claimed his action in punching Mr Doherty was in self-defence. After the jury’s verdict had been given, Judge Sheehan remanded the defendant on bail to September 23 for a probation report and sentence. The verdict was reached after a retirement of an hour and a half. Mr R. E. Neave prosecuted. Mr P. J. Egden appeared for the defendant. Prosecution evidence was that Mr Doherty returned to a bar counter to pick up his glass of beer. Other glasses were also on the counter. He picked up what he

thought was his glass. The defendant told him the glass was not his.

Mr Doherty put the glass on the counter, picked up another, and turned away to continue speaking with a person in the bar. He was then punched in the face by the defendant.

Mr Doherty said he was punched three or four times. He suffered a broken jaw and other facial injuries. The defendant told the police when questioned or said in evidence that Mr Doherty had pushed him and then stood back with his fists clenched. He immediately assumed the complainant was going to start a fight, and then punched the complainant once. He said he assumed he was going to be assaulted by the complainant, and so retaliated. He did not punch him more than once.